The title of Cy Gavin’s painting To Matter evokes the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Flanked by hats bearing a stylized New York Police Department insignia and the rough outlines of a ghost and devil, Gavin’s figure is a reminder of the disproportionate threat of police violence that confronts Black men in America. At the same time, the word “matter” calls attention to the unusual materials that the artist incorporated into the work. Diamonds intensify the standing man’s eyes, while the artist’s blood stains the upper left and bottom of the piece. Painted with a combination of black, blue, and burnt umber paints as well as tattoo ink, the figure’s rich coloration spills outside the contours of his body and into the surrounding space. Inspired by the social analysis of W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963), Gavin created this penetrating “veil” of darkness to express the “double consciousness” that continues to impact Black people living in the United States. In simple terms, Du Bois felt that a veil of prejudice prevents Black Americans from being seen as they really are. Consequently, Black Americans come to have two identities. One is comprised of a sense of authenticity, origins, and traditions. The other identity is shaped by the distorted perceptions of white America.