In the 2000s, Rashid Johnson's artistic career took a significant turn as he expanded his scope from photography to include a variety of media, exploring themes of identity, abstraction, and the African American experience. Early in his career, Johnson's work was included in the influential exhibition "Freestyle" at the Studio Museum in Harlem in 2001, which brought critical attention to his conceptual post-black art. This period marked the beginning of Johnson's investigation into the complexities of race and identity through a mix of photography, sculpture, painting, and installation, using materials laden with cultural significance, such as shea butter and black soap, to delve into issues related to African American identity and history​ (Wikipedia)​​ (Art21)​. Johnson's work in the 2000s was marked by a deep engagement with both conceptualism and abstraction, drawing influences from a wide array of literary figures and artists, including Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Norman Lewis, Sam Gilliam, and Alma Thomas. This decade saw Johnson employing a variety of materials that were present throughout his childhood and that carry particular significance within Afrocentric communities, integrating these elements into his installations to address the construction of identity and abstraction, both visual and conceptual​ (Art21)​. A pivotal moment in Johnson's career came in 2012 with his first major museum solo exhibition in the US, "Message to Our Folks" at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. This exhibition was a survey of the previous ten years of Johnson's work and showcased a new work commissioned by the MCA for the first time, further solidifying his position in the contemporary art world. The exhibition traveled to other prestigious venues, underscoring the growing recognition of Johnson's work​ (Wikipedia)​​ (High Museum of Art)​. Throughout the 2000s, Johnson's art evolved to include large-scale installations and mixed-media works that continued to explore and challenge the boundaries of race, identity, and the art historical canon. His commitment to addressing complex themes through a diverse range of media and materials has established Johnson as a significant voice in contemporary art, bridging the gap between personal narratives and broader cultural and historical dialogues.