Reo Nato, 2019

Yusef Pierce

11 x 14 in

Acrylic on Canvas

“Reo Nato” presents a mugshot-style portrait, where red, white, and blue colors evoke both the American flag and clown makeup. This dual imagery critiques a system that can make people feel like clowns in their own country, questioning identity, freedom, and the dehumanizing impact of incarceration. Rio Nato is Latin for “born criminal.”