Many of you have probably seen this viral image of Kamala Harris created by Bria Goeller and Goodtrubble; there are unfortunately many misconceptions and questions surrounding the image, let me explain what I've been able to figure out after doing some digging... 
But first, if you share this image, please credit Bria Goeller and Goodtrubble. They deserve the recognition and it's frustrating when artists don't get credit when their work is shared. instagram.com/briagoeller/ and instagram.com/goodtrouble/. Onto some explanations...
...The shadow of the little girl in Goeller's artwork was not a reference to artwork by contemporary artist Kara Walker, it is a reference to Norman Rockwell's 1964 painting "The Problem We All Live With." Given Walker's style, I can see how people would mistake it for Walker.
Some people are interpreting the little girl in Bria Goeller's artwork as being Kamala Harris as a child, it is in fact Ruby Bridges who was the first African American student to integrate an elementary school, who is the child depicted in Norman Rockwell's painting.
I assumed (incorrectly) that Bria Goeller's artwork was created yesterday after the announcement of the election results. Actually, Bria Goeller posted the artwork on Instagram on Oct 23. Here is Goeller's Instagram post: instagram.com/p/CGtTFawB-7b/
The image raises other questions I couldn't find answers for: who was the photographer who shot the photo of Kamala Harris? Goeller says on Instagram: "...we got the go-ahead and copyrights:..." but who did Goeller get the rights from, and for what part(s) of the image? If...
...Goeller did get the go-ahead and copyrights, why didn't she mention the photographer's name? (should she?) Rockwell is not mentioned either. Does Goeller need to mention Rockwell as a reference, or not? Should Goeller assume people know that Rockwell painting? There is...
...a lot to consider and think about here, I discuss all of this and more with Lauryn Welch, in this Art Prof stream we did this morning:
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