400 Degreez

About the Exhibition

Vitus Shell brings his Gold Everything Series to the Martin Museum of Art in exhibition titled, 400 Degreez: The Act of Making Nothing Out of Something. The mixed media works on view are his latest exploration of the Black experience. Exhibition dates: December 6, 2024 – April 17, 2025 

"In this exhibition, I continue my Gold Everything series. The title draws inspiration from New Orleans rapper Juvenile’s iconic 1998 studio album, "400 Degreez," which is considered a classic among hip-hop enthusiasts and Southerners. This title highlights the challenges faced by Black Americans today while weaving a narrative that underscores themes of resourcefulness, resilience, and effortless style. 

Each piece in this series aims to reflect not only the difficulties of the present but also the vibrant culture and indomitable spirit of those navigating these experiences. Through vibrant collages, intricate foam-cut prints, and bold acrylic paint, these artworks bring to life the rich tapestry of layered histories and circumstances that have shaped our current climate. Each element invites viewers to explore the complex narratives woven into our environment, making the invisible forces that influence our world visible and tangible." - Vitus Shell

About Artist Vitus Shell

Vitus Shell is a mixed-media collage painter born in Monroe, LA, where he lives and works.

His work is geared toward the Black experience, giving agency to people from his community through powerful images deconstructing, sampling, and remixing identity, civil rights, and contemporary Black culture. He received a BFA from Memphis College of Art, in 2000 and an MFA from the University of Mississippi, in 2008.

Vitus Shell has been in residencies at the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Anderson Ranch Art Center, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Mass MoCA, Joan Mitchell Center, Skowhegan School of Art, and Masur Museum of Art. To date, he has accumulated an impressive list of achievements, some of which include: participating in exhibits at universities, museums, and private galleries across the country including The McKenna Museum of African American Art, Stephen F. Austin University, Miami University, Oxford, OH; painted murals for the National Civil Rights Museum’s NBA Pioneers exhibit, Indianola City Pool in Indianola, MS, Union Parish Elementary School in Farmerville, LA; created illustrations for South Main Art Festival, Memphis, TN, Southwest Review Journal, Dallas, TX, Dillard Today, New Orleans, LA, Flying Tiger Brewery, Monroe, LA; and commissioned to do public art by the Memphis UrbanArt Commission. Shell has received numerous grants including the Joan Mitchell MFA Award.

Vitus Shell has taught at Grambling State University as an Adjunct Instructor and at Louisiana Tech University as a Visiting Assistant Professor. As of 2024, Vitus Shell is an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.