Rashid Johnson. Souls of Black Folk, 2010. Black soap, wax, books, vinyl, brass, shea butter, plants, space rocks, mirrors, gold paint, stained wood; 114 × 124.75 × 24.125 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Death by Black Hole, 2010. Steel, black soap, wax, books, shea butter, plant, space rocks, mirror, gold paint, stained wood; 96.5 × 76.25 × 30 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. A Place for Black Moses, 2010. Black ceramic tile, black soap, wax, books, vinyl, brass, shea butter, space rock, star scapes, plants, stained wood; 39.25 × 78.5 × 30.625 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Two Rugs, 2010. Persian rug, zebra skin, gold embroidery; 120 × 94 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. How Ya Like Me Now, 2010. Persian rug, gold embroidery, shea butter; 7.09 × 102.56 × 143.50 inches. Installation view: There are Stranger Villages, Galerie Guido Baudach, Berlin. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Black Yoga, 2010. Persian rug, spray paint, DVD, TV; 19.69 × 110.24 × 138.78 inches. Installation view: There are Stranger Villages, Galerie Guido Baudach, Berlin. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club (Dr. Minton), 2010. Gelatin silver print; 111.1 × 89.5 cm. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Krista & Natasha, 2010. Archival pigment print; 44.89 × 35.24 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. The Sweet, Sweet Runner Garden and Trophy Room, 2010. Steel, black soap, wax, shea butter, plants, mirror, Persian rug, spray paint, books, vinyl, space rock, dvd player & monitor; 120 × 200 × 102 inches. Installation view: Our Kind of People, Salon 94, New York. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Watch Out, 2010. Spray paint on mirror, 109 × 139 × 3.5 cm. Installation view: Our Kind of People, Salon 94, New York. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Space Twins, 2010. Tiles, wood, wax, spray paint, plant; 71.65 × 71.65 × 7.87 inches. Installation view: 25 Days After October, Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Installation view: 25 Days After October, Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy. Left to right: How a Star Is Born (2010), Run (2010), History All Over Again (2010), Space Twins (2010), Sun (2010), and American Tire (2010). Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Love Souls, 2010. Mirror, wood, wax, LP, CB radios, books, shea butter, space rock; 72.83 × 118.11 × 11.81 inches. Installation view: 25 Days After October, Galleria Massimo De Carlo, Milan, Italy. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Long Distance, 2010. Mirror tiles, black soap, wax, vinyl, books, CB radio, shea butter, space rock, plant, paint; 96 × 14 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Long Distance, (detail), 2010. Mirror tiles, black soap, wax, vinyl, books, CB radio, shea butter, space rock, plant, paint; 96 × 14 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Outer Space Is Illmatic, 2010. Paint on canvas; 24.01 × 20.08 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. The New Escapist Promised Land Garden and Recreation Center, 2009. Installation view: Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Installation view: The Dead Lecturer, Memphis Power House, Tennessee, 2009. Left to right: The Dead Lecturer (2009), The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual (2009), and Cosmic Dojo(2009). Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Cosmic Dojo, 2009. Black soap, wax, shea butter, plants, brass, 92 × 192 × 7 in. Installation view: The Dead Lecturer, Memphis Power House, Tennessee, 2009. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Cosmic Dojo (detail), 2009. Black soap, wax, shea butter, plants, brass; 92 × 192 × 7 in. Installation view: The Dead Lecturer, Memphis Power House, Tennessee, 2009. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Installation view: Smoke and Mirrors, 2009. Sculpture Center, Long Island City, New York, May 10-August 3, 2009. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Cosmic Topology, 2009. Black soap, wax, shea butter, brass, silver gelatin print, and plants; 96 × 144 × 8 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Installation view: Smoke and Mirrors, 2009. Sculpture Center, Long Island City, New York, May 10-August 3, 2009. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club The Harlem Portraits, 2009. Black and white Lambda print; 60 × 47 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Sarah with Space Rock, 2009. Archival pigment print; 40 7/8 × 32 7/8 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Katie and Valerie, 2009. Archival pigment print; 40.75 × 32.75 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Installation view: Other Aspects, 2009. Left to right: Sun Goddess (2009), Four For the Talking Cure (2009), and Pyramid (2009). Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Pyramid, 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, CB radio, brass, books, glass, spray paint, plants, wood, shea butter, space rocks; 133 × 194 × 10 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Pyramid, detail, 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, CB radio, brass, books, glass, spray paint, plants, wood, shea butter, space rocks; 133 × 194 × 10 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Pyramid, 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, CB radio, brass, books, glass, spray paint, plants, wood, shea butter, space rocks; 133 × 194 × 10 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Sun Goddess, 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, VHS cassettes, shea butter, space rocks; 92 × 122 × 7 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Sun Goddess (detail) 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, VHS cassettes, shea butter, space rocks; 92 × 122 × 7 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Electric Universe, 2009. Black soap, wax, vinyl, wood, book, brass, incense, shea butter, space rocks; 49 × 47.75 × 7 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. Self-portrait as the black Jimmy Connors in the finals of the New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club Summer Tennis Tournament, 2008. Lambda print; 60 × 48 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson, Citizen Band (Explorations in Topology), 2008. Shelves, wax, black soap, shea butter, mixed media, and ed. 5/5 of Prince of Mathematicians; 48 × 96 × 12 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, 2008. Blackened gunmetal steel; 126 × 141 × 24 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.

Rashid Johnson. The New Negro Social and Athletic Club (Thurgood), 2008. Lambda print; 64 1/2 × 51 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. Self Portrait as The Professor of Astronomy, Miscegenation, and Critical Theory at “The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club” Center for Graduate Studies, 2008. Black and white Lambda print; 49 × 80 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On

Rashid Johnson. The New Negro Escapist Social and Athletic Club (Emmett), 2007. Black and white Lambda print; 44 × 70 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich. Featured in the film Rashid Johnson Makes Things to Put Things On.

Rashid Johnson. White Girl, 2007. Lambda print; 48 × 60 inches. Courtesy the artist; David Kordansky Gallery, Los Angeles; and Hauser & Wirth, London, New York and Zurich.