March 12, 2026
Written by Gallery & Curatorial Fellow Sam Bruetsch
Lavaughan Jenkins combines his interests in music and fashion with Golems, animated anthropomorphic beings in Jewish folklore to create figures for protection. Fighter Golem (Hatshepsut) references the song Hatshepsut from Eve’s 2019 album Rapsody. Collaborating with Queen Latifah, an iconic rapper, songwriter, and actress, the lyrics of the song discuss what a queen is and could be. The song is titled Hatshepsut after the only woman to serve as emperor of Egypt, however the lyrics focus less on literal queens and instead on women integral to Black culture and organizing. The song references Roberta Flack, a Black singer, songwriter, and pianist prevalent during the 1970s; Cordetta Scott King, author, activist, and civil rights leader during the civil rights movement; and the wife of Martin Luther King and Winnie Mandela, a South African politician and anti-apartheid activist.
In his work, Jenkins thinks in three dimensions, which makes creating his Golems on paper a challenge. However, he views both his two-dimensional and three-dimensional works as paintings, as paint is the primary medium throughout both. Hatshepsut dress is painted with bright blue, red, and yellow. Even as a two-dimensional work, he continues using the weight of the paint to add texture and depth to the piece. The body of the figure is all black, but Jenkins creates separation between the face and hair by using a thicker layer of paint. Jenkins has a deep love for fashion and creatively makes each piece unique while following the same style. He crops each gown to look more athletic, combined with the large shoes and boxing gloves. These Golems are protectors and defenders of women’s rights, inspired by the impactful woman in his life.