Getty Conservation Institute 168d ago

Artist Rodney McMillian transforms commonplace materials—such as vinyl flooring, bedding, and furniture—into visceral works that explore history, power, and lived experience. Through a wide-ranging practice that includes painting, sculpture, video, installation, and performance, McMillian interrogates political and social systems while embedding meaning into the fabric of his materials.  On October 29, 2025, following a screening of the film “Rodney McMillian: Soot to Soil” (2025), McMillian joined independent curator jill moniz for a wide-ranging conversation about his process and conservation philosophies. Together, they explored material fragility and reuse, political power and the unmaking of institutions, and the role of beauty and dialogue in Black artistic practice.  This program was presented as part of the Getty Conservation Institute’s Art in L.A. project, which studies the materials and fabrication processes of LA-based artists since the 1950s and the implications these materials and processes have for conservation. “Rodney McMillian: Soot to Soil” is the latest film in Art in L.A.’s Artist Dialogues film series. The series engages artists in conversations exploring their art, materials, fabrication processes and working methods, as well as their thoughts on conservation. Explore the entire series here: https://www.getty.edu/projects/art-in-la/artist-dialogues-video-series/