In the 1960s a new generation of Black abstract artists faced a double bind, caught between the commercial gallery system’s failure to acknowledge Black artists practicing abstract art, and established Black artists known for figurative work who shunned abstraction as a non-representational expression of the Black experience. Despite these limitations of perception, a group of … Continue reading Ed Clark: The Motion of the Stroke
They call it “due process” and some people are overdue We beg your pardon, America Somebody said, “Brotherman gonna break a window, gonna steal a hubcap, gonna smoke a joint, a brotherman gonna go to jail” The man who tried to steal America is not in jail “Get caught with a nickel bag, brotherman. Get … Continue reading We Beg Your Pardon?
Los Angeles based artist Corey Pemberton’s latest body of work explores the intimate spaces and vulnerable places that define our notions of “home”. In his current solo show at CAM Raleigh called creature, comfort, Pemberton combines painting, photography, and hand blown glass to create visual environments that depict his subjects in both real and imagined … Continue reading Artist Corey Pemberton Offers Timely Meditations on Home in “creature, comfort” at CAM Raleigh
Art + Practice’s latest show, Collective Constellation: Selections from the Eileen Harris Norton Collection is an exhibition that I always needed to see, I just didn’t realize why until now. Over the last several years, I’ve committed the month February to posting Artist a Day profiles where Black artists are highlighted and celebrated. In 2017 … Continue reading A Collective Constellation at Art + Practice
During Frieze week there were two booths that I regret not seeing in person. Alison Saar’s booth hosted by L.A. Louver was one of them. Her solo presentation, Chaos in the Kitchen featured a series of sculptures and prints by the artist that pay homage to the sanctity of the kitchen as a place of … Continue reading Artist a Day: Alison Saar
My inbox is overloaded with art fair mail that I wistfully looked at this week while secretly breathing a sigh of relief that I’m safely in North Carolina while the frenzy, appropriately dubbed #artmageddon by Carolina Miranda of the L.A. Times, kicks off in full swing. Alas, this morning, the FOMO is officially in full … Continue reading Artist a Day: Genevieve Gaignard
In 2017 director Matthew Cherry announced a Kickstarter campaign to produce a short film about a little girl’s natural hair journey. At the time, artist Vashti Harrison was garnering a large social media following for her beautiful illustrations that capture the magic that’s found in the simple joys of childhood. Her expressive characters could be … Continue reading Artist a Day: Vashti Harrison
Last year I wrote a piece about a lowrider motorcycle exhibition called Viva Viclas at CAM Raleigh, and one of the things that struck me during the research for the piece was how Black and brown motorcyclists formed strong connections in the early years of motorcycle and chopper culture. I wonder what happened, because those … Continue reading Artist a Day (Design Edition): Cliff Vaughs
Over the last 3 weeks I’ve seen the laudatory reviews and images on Noah Davis’s solo show at David Zwirner and one painting keeps sticking out to me. It features a little girl in a dress with white knee-high socks and a pair of t-strap Mary Janes. The little girl’s hands are politely folded in … Continue reading Artist a Day: Noah Davis
Today, I’m celebrating Super Bowl Sunday my way, by honoring a great Black artist whose career began as a professional football player. Ernie Barnes was from Durham, North Carolina where he endured Jim Crow segregation and childhood bullying, using football and art to strengthen his body and his resolve. He earned a scholarship to play … Continue reading Artist a Day, Super Bowl Edition: Ernie Barnes
Culture Shock Art 