“Knowing” pays tribute to the life and legacy of Emmett Till, the Chicago teen whose 1955 murder galvanized the civil rights movement. The 16x16-inch print, hand-pulled in an edition of 40 signed and numbered copies, boasts eight layers of ink, one of which is a multi-colored split fountain (a method where two or more colors of ink are positioned side-by-side on a single screen and blended with a squeegee to create a unique gradient) — an effect crucial to bringing Sansing’s concept to reality.

Emmett Till’s story continues to echo across American history and society. The 14-year-old was visiting relatives in Mississippi when he was lynched over a disputed encounter with a white woman. Till’s mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, demanded an open-casket funeral and allowed photos of her son’s mutilated body to appear in print, exposing the horrific brutality of Jim Crow white supremacy to the world at large and profoundly impacting activists including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. 

“Knowing” was originally created for a Till-themed group exhibition, Sansing says. “[Chicago artist, designer and educator] Norman Teague and I were speaking on what to do for the show, other than the usual portraits and ‘Black trauma’ art visuals,” he explains. “We also spoke about how Emmett Till’s story was a real-life cautionary tale you learned growing up, but also a fate he couldn’t avoid. So I thought to depict a young boy who has a setting southern sun on his mind, and the implications that may bring for his future and safety, while also looking at the key to navigating his future beyond the historical implications. It’s heavy stuff, but a positive mindstate in the midst of unrest.” 

“Knowing” resonates far beyond its historical context, Sansing adds. “Maintaining normalcy in a space of uncertainty, and finding your way through it, is something we all deal with.”

Sansing is no stranger to POP!NK audiences. The South Side native fuses the energy and ethos of street art with the rigor and refinement of photorealism, featuring in gallery shows and special events throughout Chicago as well as New York City and Miami. Sansing has partnered with POP!NK on numerous projects, including most recently “The Best Day of My Life,” inspired by the Academy Award-winning Sinners.