Boyz n the Hood & the Art of Visual Identity

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has a new exhibit that highlights a film that is an undeniable 90s cultural zeitgeist, but also unmistakably a visual icon as well: “Boyz n the Hood”. The exhibition, featuring production elements and photographs by production photographer D. Stevens, honors the movie’s legacy in depicting Black life and culture. The display includes bold environmental graphics and a pastel mural inspired by the film’s setting, highlighting the cultural and visual impact of Singleton’s work and Brent Rollins’ striking logo design, which he half-jokingly refers to as “the Black Star Wars logo” in reference to its impact on the culture. You May recognize Rollins’ other work on the covers of albums for hip hop artists like Blackalicious, Black Star, and Gang Starr, as well as working with Nike and the 2013 World Cup.