My Global Hustle

A FEW weeks before the opening of his first solo show, “Herald,” at the Marlborough Gallery in Chelsea, Rashaad Newsome rendered himself as a coat of arms.

“This is me,” he said one recent afternoon in his studio in Chelsea, pointing to a square of black alligator skin with alternating shiny and matte swatches. It was decorated with a shield patterned by gold fleur-de-lis — a symbol of his hometown, New Orleans — and a leather baseball hat with the points of a crown: urban royalty. The frame was heavy gold rope, like the chains worn by 1980s rappers, and topped with Swarovski crystal fleur-de-lis at the corners, for added bling. According to the rules of heraldry — the art and technique of creating richly detailed symbols of achievement, status and clan that dates to at least the 12th century — Mr. Newsome’s armorial representation was done in the style, if necessarily not the size and shape, of a standard flag.