Sky of Hope

By Idris Khan

About

The artwork

Sky of Hope fills the ceiling with layered text drawn from President Obama’s 2015 speech commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery, Ala. marches. Each word was individually stamped by hand, building a dense pattern that radiates outward like a burst of light. Up close, visitors can pick out fragments of language—phrases including “love and hope can conquer hate,” “many coming together,” and “to shape our own destiny.” Farther away, the text becomes more abstract. Blending art and architecture, the work creates a quiet space for reflection on the power of hope.

Location: Museum | Sky Room

The artist

Idris Khan is a London-based artist whose work spans photography, video, and sculpture. Since earning his Master’s from the Royal College of Art, he has developed a practice known for layered imagery that brings together references from literature, music, history, and religion. His work often moves between abstraction and figuration, building dense visual compositions from repeated marks and text.

A photographed portrait of Idris Khan. The image is in grey scale. The background of the image is a dark wall. Idris is standing with his arms folder across his chest, staring into the camera. He has a light complexion, short dark hair, and a light colored five-o-clock shade on his face. He is wearing a dark colored button-down shirt with a color. The shirt has a pocket on the left side and white buttons.