Mel Roman: Coming Out Under Fire

Artist, civil rights activist, and clinical psychologist Mel Roman (American, 1927–2002) had an accomplished 50 year-career uniting provocative visual art, explicit political critique, and the scientific study of the human psyche. A straight, white man, Roman’s life’s work focused on achieving social justice for the disenfranchised.

During his 50-year career, Roman’s artwork addressed the human psyche and social inequity, racial discrimination, gay rights, gender equity, the right to die, intentional communities, and paternal custody rights. Transforming his activism on behalf of disenfranchised populations into visual art, Roman began integrating text, found objects and the potent symbol of the American flag.

Coming Out Under Fire

is the first presentation of this challenging series of artworks since the congressional repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in 2010.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website