“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way–things I
had no words for.” Georgia O’Keeffe
The quote perhaps best describes one of the growing efforts of contemporary arts in today’s world as artists commit themselves to not just finding expressive ways to showcase their creativity but to also stimulate or initiate changes within society through their creative expressions.
Over the years Black art has remained an example of art being leveraged as a tool for change. Beyond its creative use, Black art has continually been an instrument through which cultural opinions are shaped, and narratives redefined.
Today, many contemporary Black artists have continued to take the global stage with their work and representation of social issues. Here are 5 top Black contemporary artists making a cultural difference.
Rashid Johnson
Rashid Johnson is an artist who leverages the use of cultural and racial identity to provide conceptual art in photography and sculpturing. Born in Chicago in 1977, Rashid is a graduate of Columbia College and the School of Art Institute of Chicago.
While some of Rashid’s artwork explores a broad spectrum of areas, he still delves into areas relating to the African American lifestyle. His style integrates the use of materials like Shea Butter, records, books, incense, etc as part of his artwork. In addition to his compositions, Rashid also produces video and audio installations as part of his artistic work.
His collections can be found within the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York amongst several others.
Shea Butter Three Ways, by Rashid Johnson. Source: Facebook | Henry Moore Institute
Amy Sherald
Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1973, Sherald is a graduate of Clark-Atlanta University, the Maryland Institute College of Art, and participated in the Spelman College International Artist program.
Sherald’s art which is commonly referred to as simplified realism, depicts African Americans in portrait style and daily life settings. Leveraging the use of staged photographs, Sherald uses grayscale to showcase skin tones to stimulate the question about the concept of color in race conversations.
In 2016 she would go on to become the first African American to win the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition.
Painting of Michelle Obama, by Amy Sherald. Source: Whitney Museum of American Art
Lorna Simpson
Born on August 13, 1960, Lorna Simpson found the expression of her art through photography. As a photographer, her works delved into the prejudices of race and gender with a special focus on African–American women.
To engage the viewer more with her style of photography, she explored a new form of innovation called Photo-text which includes imposing brief text over the photographs to bring robustness to this photo production. This would go on to be her signature style of art.
A recipient of the National Endowment for Arts and the Whitney Museum American Art Award, Lorna would go on to become the first African–American woman to have her works exhibited at the international arts festival Vernice Biennale.
Guarded Conditions, by Lorna Simpson, 1989. Fair Use. Source: WikiArt
Kerry James Marshall
Born in 1955 in Alabama, Kerry James Marshall is an African–American painter whose work delves into the culture of African–Americans in the United States. His style of art explores the daily lived experiences of Black people more so with a focus on the middle class as was represented in one of his paintings known as “Our Town” in 1995.
His use of collages and highly patterned settings to bring about a certain realism to his artwork are some of the things that distinguish his work. A graduate of the Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, Kerry is also a recipient of the John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grant.
School of Beauty, School of Culture by Kerry James Marshall, 2012. Fair Use
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
Born in London in 1977, Lynette is famous for her Oil paintings on canvas which she expresses based on moods, movement, and pose. Working with various materials, Lynette seeks out the imagery that best resonates, and prompted by variations that appeal to her, she then goes ahead to compose it on canvas.
Born in 1977 in London, Lynette had her art experience from the Falmouth School of Art and came to draw her inspiration from exploring the beauty of painting as an act in itself which provides not just the beauty in the works alone but also offers meaning to the images created.
A Fever of Lilies by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye. Source: Instagram | Sewell Chan
Okechukwu Nzeribe works with the Onitsha Chamber of Commerce, in Anambra State, Nigeria, and loves unveiling the richness of African cultures. okechukwu.onicima@gmail.com
