The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of July 14, 2026

A vertically oriented letterpress print features bold black text centered against horizontal bands of light blue, pink, and white. The sturdy serif letters announce, "fingernails are SO wonderful. shout out to GOD." with the attribution "grandpa juice" in smaller type below. Stamped onto grainy brown cardboard, the ink bites into the surface, lending a rugged, tactile quality to the vibrant, layered stripes and celebratory message.

Printing the Truth (How Trans is You?)

2024
(American, b. 1948)
Image: 22.9 x 30.5 cm (9 x 12 in.)
© Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

This series is one of several works in which Amos Kennedy Jr. has addressed the issue of trans rights, which he sees as being “about humanity.”

Description

Amos Kennedy Jr. is an American printmaker who is well-known for using letterpress technique to explore issues related to race and social justice. He works from his own print shop in Detroit, where he also teaches letterpress. This series presents phrases solicited from community members that address trans rights printed on the colors of the trans flag. The prints were produced for an installation at ATNSC, an interdisciplinary residency and cultural space for BIPOC artists in Cleveland.
  • {{cite web|title=Printing the Truth (How Trans is You?)|url=false|author=Amos Paul Kennedy, Jr.|year=2024|access-date=14 July 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2024.84.13