Derrick Adams

Cool Down Bench (RBG)

Derrick Adams, born in Baltimore, is a multidisciplinary artist now living and working in Brooklyn. Adamss work celebrates and expands the dialogue around contemporary Black life and culture through scenes of normalcy and perseverance, often drawing inspiration from everyday life, popular culture, and historical narratives. Much of his work is a celebration of these themes through depictions of leisure, relaxation, and rest. His Cool Down Bench blends the functionality of a bench with the recognizable form of a an ice pop and the colors of the Pan-African flag. This combination of form, function, and color can evoke memories, spur contemplation, or simply provide a place to rest. While some may see a colorful ice pop bench, Adamss intentions for his work are imbued with ideas about community, relaxation, and hopes for public spaces that can spark generations of joy and connection. He encourages viewers to figuratively consider the importance of leisure and self-care while literally providing a place to do so.

Derrick Adams, born in Baltimore, is a multidisciplinary artist now living and working in Brooklyn. Adamss work celebrates and expands the dialogue around contemporary Black life and culture through scenes of normalcy and perseverance, often drawing inspiration from everyday life, popular culture, and historical narratives. Much of his work is a celebration of these themes through depictions of leisure, relaxation, and rest. His Cool Down Bench blends the functionality of a bench with the recognizable form of a an ice pop and the colors of the Pan-African flag. This combination of form, function, and color can evoke memories, spur contemplation, or simply provide a place to rest. While some may see a colorful ice pop bench, Adamss intentions for his work are imbued with ideas about community, relaxation, and hopes for public spaces that can spark generations of joy and connection. He encourages viewers to figuratively consider the importance of leisure and self-care while literally providing a place to do so.

Derrick Adams, born in Baltimore, is a multidisciplinary artist now living and working in Brooklyn. Adamss work celebrates and expands the dialogue around contemporary Black life and culture through scenes of normalcy and perseverance, often drawing inspiration from everyday life, popular culture, and historical narratives. Much of his work is a celebration of these themes through depictions of leisure, relaxation, and rest. His Cool Down Bench blends the functionality of a bench with the recognizable form of a an ice pop and the colors of the Pan-African flag. This combination of form, function, and color can evoke memories, spur contemplation, or simply provide a place to rest. While some may see a colorful ice pop bench, Adamss intentions for his work are imbued with ideas about community, relaxation, and hopes for public spaces that can spark generations of joy and connection. He encourages viewers to figuratively consider the importance of leisure and self-care while literally providing a place to do so.

Derrick Adams

Derrick Adams

Cool Down Bench (RBG)

Exhibition

Exhibition

Materials & Dimensions

Materials & Dimensions

Fiberglass, epoxy resin, polyurethane paint, single-stage polyurethane clear coat, and radiate pine.

18 1/2 x 122 x 23 inches

Year

Year

2023

Site

Site

Marcus Performing Arts Center

Credits

Credits

Courtesy of the artist and Gagosian Gallery.

Photography by Michael Lagerman.

Social Choreography Score

by Kim Miller

Social Choreography Score

by Kim Miller

Social Choreography Score

by Kim Miller

Remember a time you felt happiness. Make a small gesture for that time or event. Now repeat the gesture, but make the movements a little bigger. Repeat your gesture of happiness remembrance 3 more times, making bigger movements each time. Now repeat the entire sequence again, this time with a desire for a time in the future to feel happiness.

Begin by sitting on the bench, notice how it feels underneath you 

Move your legs left and right on the ground while sitting

Stand up and turn to face the sculpture 

Run your hands on the smooth surface

Stand up straight, arms by your side 

Remember what you felt by sitting and touching the sculpture. Textures, temperature etc.

Let your body move in any way that shows what you felt. Indulge in your own movement. 

Once you feel satisfied come to a still position again 

Bring your arms up above your head, hands touching. Creating a long line in your body.

Move up and down the sculpture, with your arms up

After a couple times up and down, come to a stop in the middle 

Bring one leg up into the air, balancing on the other, or imagine doing so.

Extend the leg in the air either to the front or back of you, still balancing on one leg and your hands up above your head, or imagine doing so.

Relax the arms down while one leg is stretched out in the air

Set the leg back down when you are ready 

Sit back down on the bench 

Scoot yourself up and down the bench, sliding across of it in a seated position

Stop at a place on the bench that speaks to you

Sit up as straight and stiff as possible

Relax  

Remember a time you felt happiness. Make a small gesture for that time or event. Now repeat the gesture, but make the movements a little bigger. Repeat your gesture of happiness remembrance 3 more times, making bigger movements each time. Now repeat the entire sequence again, this time with a desire for a time in the future to feel happiness.

Begin by sitting on the bench, notice how it feels underneath you 

Move your legs left and right on the ground while sitting

Stand up and turn to face the sculpture 

Run your hands on the smooth surface

Stand up straight, arms by your side 

Remember what you felt by sitting and touching the sculpture. Textures, temperature etc.

Let your body move in any way that shows what you felt. Indulge in your own movement. 

Once you feel satisfied come to a still position again 

Bring your arms up above your head, hands touching. Creating a long line in your body.

Move up and down the sculpture, with your arms up

After a couple times up and down, come to a stop in the middle 

Bring one leg up into the air, balancing on the other, or imagine doing so.

Extend the leg in the air either to the front or back of you, still balancing on one leg and your hands up above your head, or imagine doing so.

Relax the arms down while one leg is stretched out in the air

Set the leg back down when you are ready 

Sit back down on the bench 

Scoot yourself up and down the bench, sliding across of it in a seated position

Stop at a place on the bench that speaks to you

Sit up as straight and stiff as possible

Relax  

Remember a time you felt happiness. Make a small gesture for that time or event. Now repeat the gesture, but make the movements a little bigger. Repeat your gesture of happiness remembrance 3 more times, making bigger movements each time. Now repeat the entire sequence again, this time with a desire for a time in the future to feel happiness.

Begin by sitting on the bench, notice how it feels underneath you 

Move your legs left and right on the ground while sitting

Stand up and turn to face the sculpture 

Run your hands on the smooth surface

Stand up straight, arms by your side 

Remember what you felt by sitting and touching the sculpture. Textures, temperature etc.

Let your body move in any way that shows what you felt. Indulge in your own movement. 

Once you feel satisfied come to a still position again 

Bring your arms up above your head, hands touching. Creating a long line in your body.

Move up and down the sculpture, with your arms up

After a couple times up and down, come to a stop in the middle 

Bring one leg up into the air, balancing on the other, or imagine doing so.

Extend the leg in the air either to the front or back of you, still balancing on one leg and your hands up above your head, or imagine doing so.

Relax the arms down while one leg is stretched out in the air

Set the leg back down when you are ready 

Sit back down on the bench 

Scoot yourself up and down the bench, sliding across of it in a seated position

Stop at a place on the bench that speaks to you

Sit up as straight and stiff as possible

Relax  

Erika Verzutti

Venus Yogini

Erika Verzutti

Venus Yogini

Erika Verzutti

Venus Yogini

Teresa Baker

Abundant

Teresa Baker

Abundant

Teresa Baker

Abundant

Sarah Braman

Stay

Sarah Braman

Stay

Sarah Braman

Stay

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

George & Karen Oliver

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee

thank you

To our generous sponsors, partners, collaborators, and supporters who make our work possible.

Founding & Sustaining
Sponsors

* indicates both Founding and sustaining founding sponsor

Anonymous
Donna & Donald Baumgartner*
Black Box Fund
Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation
Herb Kohl Philanthropies
Herzfeld Foundation
Hoke Family Foundation
Susan & Mark Irgens*
Mandel Groups*
Mellowes Family*
Sue & Bud Selig*
Julie & David Uihlein*
Lacey Sadoff Foundation

presenting

Collaborator

Betty Arndt
City of Milwaukee Arts Board
Good Karma Brands

leader

Anonymous
Heil Family Foundation
Godfrey & Kahn

Exhibition Partner

Visionary

Evan & Marion Helfaer Foundation

sculpture

Wayne & Lori Morgan

Connector

BMO
Foley & Lardner
Hawks Landscaping
Open Pantry
PNC Bank
PwC
Russ Darrow Group
Town Bank
US Bank
WeycoGroup

Sculpture Milwaukee is always free and open to the public thanks to our generous supporters.

We work with trusted community partners to ensure great contemporary art is accessible to all.

Sign up for our newsletter

Colophon

© 2025 Sculpture Milwaukee