Smithsonian Collections
Esperanza Spalding

- Data Source
- National Portrait Gallery
- Exhibition Label
- Born Portland, Oregon
- Jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding electrified the Grammy Awards in 2011 when she won honors as Best New Artist. Having been inspired by Yo-Yo Ma as a child, she played several different stringed instruments before settling on the bass when she was in high school. She released her first album, Junjo, in 2006. Her sixth release, Exposure, was created over seventy-seven consecutive hours, a process that she livestreamed on Facebook in September 2017. Spalding’s musical roots reflect her rich cultural heritage: Her father is African American; her mother is Welsh, Native American, and Hispanic; and she herself sings in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Sandrine Lee’s photograph shows the musician in an old railroad station in Connecticut. In interviews, Spalding has emphasized that music does not only happen in recording studios and concert halls, but also in more intimate, everyday spaces, like the one shown here.
- Nacida en Portland, Oregon
- La bajista de jazz y cantante Esperanza Spalding electrificó los premios Grammy en 2011 cuando ganó la distinción a la Mejor Nueva Artista. Habiéndose inspirado en Yo-Yo Ma de niña, tocó varios instrumentos de cuerda distintos antes de decidirse por el bajo cuando estaba en la escuela secundaria. Lanzó su primer álbum, Junjo, en 2006. Su sexto estreno, Exposure, fue creado a lo largo de setenta y siete horas consecutivas que transmitió en vivo por Facebook en septiembre de 2017. Las raíces musicales de Spalding reflejan su rica herencia cultural: su padre es afroamericano; su madre es galesa, indígena e hispana; y la propia artista canta en inglés, español y portugués. La fotografía de Sandrine Lee muestra a la artista en una antigua estación de ferrocarril de Connecticut. En entrevistas, Spalding ha puesto de relieve que la música no sólo ocurre en estudios de grabación y salas de concierto, sino también en espacios más íntimos y cotidianos, como se ve aquí.
- Artist
- Sandrine Lee, born 1972
- Sitter
- Esperanza Spalding, born 1984
- Date
- 2010 (printed 2012)
- Credit Line
- National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Sandrine Lee
- Medium
- Digitally exposed chromogenic print
- Dimensions
- Image: 40.5 x 61 cm (15 15/16 x 24")
- Sheet: 50.7 x 71.2 cm (19 15/16 x 28 1/16")
- Type
- Photograph
- See more items in
- National Portrait Gallery Collection
- Exhibition
- 20th Century Americans: 2000 to Present
- On View
- NPG, South Gallery 341
- Object number
- C/NPG.2012.42
- Culture
- Esperanza Spalding: Native American
- Esperanza Spalding: American\African American
- Esperanza Spalding: American\Hispanic American
- Topic
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
- Music\Musical instrument\Violin
- Equipment\Drafting & Writing Implements\Writing implement\Pencil
- Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Bench
- Music\Sheet music
- Music\Musical instrument\Cello
- Interior\Train station
- Esperanza Spalding: Female
- Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician
- Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Composer
- Esperanza Spalding: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Jazz
- Portrait
- Place
- United States\Connecticut