About Michael
Michael Coppage is a conceptual artist using an interdisciplinary, dialectical approach to address social issues surrounding race and language. Originally from Chicago, He has lived and worked in Cincinnati since 2007. Coppage earned a B.F.A in Sculpture from Memphis College of Art and an M.F.A in Studio Art from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Coppage is the recipient of Artswave’s Truth and Reconciliation grant, Ohio Pretrial Justice grant, and received Awesome Foundation grants in New York and Philadelphia. He completed a TEDx Talk titled “Everybody’s Racist....and it’s O.K” and he gained national attention with his recent project “BLACK BOX” : a community impact project aimed at demystifying black men and creating authentic experiences that replaces bias and preconceived notions related to the term “Black” This series was exhibited around the country and in Puerto Rico at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 21c Museum Hotel and the Ohio Arts Councils Riffe Gallery to name a few. Coppage has gained some attention recently with a body of work entitled “American+” after depicting white Americans as monkeys in his paintings. He has several collaborative pieces set for completion this year and also released a podcast on Spotify appropriately titled Black Box as part of his recent series.
Everybody is Racist!… and it’s okay!
"This is where you start: Small incremental, changes around language leading to huge, transformative shifts..." - Michael Coppage
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
In this episode of The Memory Generation, we heard a testimony clip from Michael’s Black Box Project — the voice of his grandfather Leroy Maxie.
Listen to more of Leroy’s reflections of growing up as a black men here.