What About the Living Artists?
Image: Pelham Communications
Jean-Michel Basquiat is an ICON;
there’s no doubt about it
His influence has lasted years beyond his lifespan and career combined. He’s been immortalized through any product imaginable and shaggy locs adorned by many as a statement against conformity. His being has been a topic of conversation about how legendary or overrated he was while still dropping gems about his existence.
He was who he was. Through t-shirts, crown tattoos and any other tchotchke imaginable (I admittedly own several), we will never forget him. If you’re someone who has taken the time to learn about his life, or the inspiration behind his work you’d understand there was actual significant meaning behind it all.
None of this is an attempt to discredit Basquiat — he was indeed his own incomparable entity. His persona and style of art precedes him. He’s even been imitated by others who give little to know credit with a blurb that reads “inspired by” if any credit is given at all. But as many sing his praises and keep his name alive, I often wonder what about the living artists who until this day are still putting in the work?
“I'm not a real person. I'm a legend.”
In 2019, artist Guillarme Verda’s gallery viewing in France was cancelled due to accusations of plagiarizing the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat (via Dazeddigital.com)
I’m all for keeping the legacy of those who came before us alive; it helps us to know where we came from, why we do the things we do and what may have brought us to this point (this is the foundation of what this space is built on). It connects us to what may have been experienced. But here are some of my favorites who are still here to give a narrative in the present.
KARA WALKER
New York City
“Silhouettes are reductions, and racial stereotypes are also reductions of actual human beings.”
Kara Walker uses Cut-Out silhouettes, film, sculptures and installations to relay a story of African-Americans during slavery and the post-civil rights era. Her work focuses on violence, sex and the treachery that was experienced.
One of her most notable bodies of work is her 75 ft sculpture “Subtlety, or a Marvelous Sugar Baby (2014),” located in Brooklyn’s Domino Sugar refinery, which was a combination of a sphinx with black features adorning a headscarf and earrings, channeling that of a mammy.
As two toned and one dimensional as most of Walker’s work may appear to be, there are strong messages and details within every drawing, sculpture and installation. I myself have been able to witness them first-hand at the Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Gallery, located in Chelsea, NYC.
KERRY JAMES MARSHALL
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
“One of the reasons I paint black people is because I am a Black person.”
I was introduced to Kerry James Marshall’s work in 2017 at the Met Breuer (Upper East Side, NYC) through his Exhibit “Mastry.” I was drawn in by the shade of black used for the skin tone of the figures engulfed in pastels. His told the stories of black life, some of which were inspired by his experiences growing up in South Central Los Angeles.
His timeless imagery focuses on the lifestyle of the culture of African-Americans, some displaying struggle and everyday life throughout history. The Black Painting in particular displays a portrayal of the events leading up to the assassination of Fred Hampton, the chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party.
Kerry James Marshall’s work has also been seen on Lee Daniel’s “Empire.”. and in 2018, his piece “Past Times” was acquired by Sean “Diddy” Combs for $21.1 million, making it the largest investment of an artwork by a living African American Artist.
TOYIN OJIH ODUTOLA
New York City
“Being a Black artist, the first thing people want to talk about is your Blackness, the importance of your Blackness, and your Black presence.”
Similar to Kerry James Marshall (but not to be compared), Nigerian-American Artist Toyin Ojih Odutola has a way of layering brown and black hues for complexion, surrounded by softer colors to bring her artwork to life. Her focus is “the sociopolitical construct of skin color (via jackshainman.com).
The Jack Shainman Gallery (Chelsea, NYC) is where I was first introduced to Odutola’s work through her series “When Legends Die.” I was immediately inspired by its regal undertones despite their relaxed appearance.
There are many artists who have made their mark in the past, are doing so in the present, and are artists who are continuing to emerge.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with not only those who are often in the spotlight, but also the creatives who give a narrative at any level of notoriety. Dead or alive, these artists have a story to tell and bring light to what have and continue to endure. They immortalize our experiences through their work. They all deserve recognition for preserving our presence.