Why Black Art Matters
You know that feeling you get when you see a piece of art that just speaks to your soul? Maybe it's a painting that captures the beauty of your culture in a way you've never seen before. Or a song with lyrics that articulate an experience that you always struggled to put into words. For many in the Black community, experiencing art created by Black artists can be deeply affirming in this way.
Black art matters because it gives a voice to stories and perspectives that are so often missing from the mainstream. It celebrates Black beauty, resilience, and culture. It inspires, moves, and empowers. So if you've never really explored the world of Black art, music, films, or literature, you're missing out. There's a whole universe of creativity just waiting to speak to you.
The Rich History of African Art
The history of black art spans centuries and continents, though it has often been overlooked and underappreciated. African art in particular has a rich tradition dating back thousands of years.
Ancient African Art
Ancient Egypt produced art forms that endure to this day, like hieroglyphics and the pyramids. The Benin Empire in West Africa was also a hub for bronze castings, intricate wood and ivory carvings, and terra cotta sculptures starting in the 13th century.
The Harlem Renaissance
In the early 1900s, the Harlem Renaissance in New York City fostered an explosion of African American art. Legends like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston produced seminal works of literature, while musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington shaped modern jazz. Visual artists like Aaron Douglas incorporated African themes into elegant paintings and illustrations.
Contemporary Black Art
Today, black artists around the world are creating groundbreaking work across mediums. Figures like Kara Walker, Kerry James Marshall, and Julie Mehretu have brought issues of race, identity, and history to the fore through imaginative paintings and sculptures. Meanwhile, artists across Africa are receiving greater recognition, with stars like Wangechi Mutu, El Anatsui, and Njideka Akunyili Crosby gaining prominence in the global art world.
Black art has always played a crucial role in culture, identity, and political discourse. By honouring its history and supporting today’s artists, we gain a richer understanding of humanity in all its diversity.
Promoting Black Voices Through Contemporary African Art
Promoting Black voices through contemporary African art is so important. African art has a rich history, but for too long, Black artists have been marginalized and underrepresented.
Recognizing Talent
There are many gifted contemporary African artists creating meaningful work today. We need to actively seek out and support these artists by attending exhibits, following them on social media, and even collecting their art. Some renowned contemporary African artists to know include Julie Mehretu, Kehinde Wiley, Wangechi Mutu, and Yinka Shonibare.
Valuing Diverse Perspectives
Contemporary African art offers a glimpse into the diverse cultures, experiences, and perspectives of people from African descent. By promoting these artists, we amplify voices that desperately need to be heard and support a community that still faces discrimination. Art is a powerful way to share stories, challenge stereotypes, and foster understanding.
Investing in the Future
Buying art from up-and-coming contemporary African artists also helps ensure these artists can continue their craft. As their work gains more recognition and value over time, it promotes future generations of Black artists. Even small purchases or donations can make a big difference in an artist’s career.
Promoting contemporary African art is something everyone can and should do to support Black artists, elevate diverse voices, and advance a more inclusive art world. There are so many talented African artists creating meaningful work — we just have to make the effort to listen.
Appreciating the Beauty and Complexity of Nigerian and West African Art
Appreciating the beauty and complexity of Nigerian and West African art requires an open and curious mind. These vibrant cultures have produced artistic traditions spanning centuries, each with their own visual language.
To understand Nigerian art, you must understand Nigeria itself—a diverse country of over 250 ethnic groups, each with their own artistic heritage. The Yoruba people are known for their stunning bronze sculptures and terra cotta pottery. The Igbo are renowned for their mbari shrines, elaborate structures made of mud and thatch to honor the goddess Ala. The Ekoi people create vivid masks for masquerades and ceremonies. These are just a few examples of Nigeria’s artistic diversity.
Beyond Nigeria, West African art as a whole is bold, colorful, and symbolic. Common themes include spirituality, community, nature, and daily life. Materials range from metal alloys to textiles to beads, with artworks taking forms like masks, statues, pottery, weaving, and more. For centuries, West African art was primarily a means to connect with spiritual and ancestral realms. Today, West African art also serves to represent cultural heritage and share beauty with the wider world.
To fully appreciate this art, spend time observing the details. Notice the materials, colors, and motifs used. Consider the meaning behind symbolic elements. Think about the time and skill required to produce each piece. When you understand the cultural context in which the art was created, you open yourself up to a deeper level of connection and admiration.
West African art is a vibrant, complex world waiting to be explored. Dive in, keep an open and curious mind, and discover the beauty of these artistic traditions that have endured for generations.
Supporting Black Artists and Galleries Like DolapoObatGallery
Supporting black artists and art galleries is critical to promoting diversity and empowering marginalized voices in the art world. One way you can directly support black artists is by purchasing their work or donating to black-owned art galleries like DolapoObatGallery.
Dolapo Obat Gallery
Dolapo Obat Gallery is a black-owned art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria that showcases contemporary art from across Africa and the diaspora. By purchasing art directly from their online gallery or donating to help fund their exhibits and operations, you are enabling them to elevate and amplify more black artists.
Even if you can’t afford to buy original art, you can still support in other meaningful ways. Follow black artists and galleries on social media, like and comment on their posts, and share their work with others to help increase their visibility. Write reviews of their art on platforms like Yelp or Google Reviews. Every bit of exposure and word-of-mouth marketing helps.
Attend local art exhibits featuring black artists in your area. Engage with the artists and ask them about their work. Let them know you appreciate them and want to see more. Strike up genuine conversations - your enthusiasm and interest can make a real impact.
Promote crowdfunding campaigns for black art projects and donate if you’re able. Many black artists and galleries rely on sites like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and GoFundMe to fund innovative exhibits, studio space, and other initiatives. Even small contributions help, and sharing their campaigns on social media increases the chances of reaching their funding goals.
There are many meaningful ways to show your support for black art and artists. While buying and donating are hugely impactful, you can also provide valuable support through social media engagement, reviews, conversations, and spreading the word about crowdfunding campaigns. Every action, no matter how small it may seem, makes a difference in empowering and amplifying black voices in the art world. The time for change is now.
How Black Art Inspires Cultural Change
Black art has long been a catalyst for cultural change. Through powerful and evocative works, black artists have challenged stereotypes, brought awareness to social issues, and celebrated black identity and experience.
It Challenges Societal Norms
Black art often subverts predominant stereotypes and norms in society that negatively impact the black community. Pieces like Kara Walker’s provocative silhouettes and Kehinde Wiley’s colorful portraits of urban black youth in classical poses push back against one-dimensional representations of black people.
By depicting black subjects in new, empowering ways, these artworks open people’s minds and start important conversations. They make us question why certain portrayals of blackness have been normalized and why others are so shocking or unsettling. This kind of challenging, thought-provoking art is instrumental in achieving social change.
It Highlights Important Issues
Black artists frequently use their work to raise awareness of issues like racial injustice, inequality, and the black struggle. Emmett Till, the 14-year-old boy lynched in 1955, has become an enduring symbol in art. His likeness and story have been referenced by artists like Glenn Ligon, Carrie Mae Weems, and Nick Cave to represent racism and violence against black Americans.
Other works tackle issues like mass incarceration, police brutality, poverty, and lack of opportunity - bringing visibility to problems that disproportionately impact the black community. By confronting these issues head-on, black art plays an essential role in cultivating understanding and fueling activism.
It Celebrates Black Joy
While much black art aims to address social issues, an equally important function is celebrating black identity, beauty, and joy. Vibrant portraits of everyday people by artists like Amy Sherald, Kehinde Wiley's regal hip hop-inspired portraits, and the bold textile works of Radcliffe Bailey all revel in and honor black life.
By representing black people with dignity, humanity, and joy, these artworks help empower and uplift - conveying that black lives are meaningful and worth celebrating. They capture the diversity, creativity, and spirit at the heart of black culture.
In all these ways, black art inspires cultural change by challenging prejudices, raising awareness of important issues, and celebrating black identity. It gives voice to underrepresented experiences, forges connections, and envisions new possibilities - all of which are instrumental in achieving social progress.
So there you have it. Black art matters because it gives voice to experiences often marginalized and overlooked in mainstream culture. It provides a glimpse into the diversity of the black experience that goes beyond stereotypes and generalizations. When we make space for black art, we open ourselves up to understanding new perspectives and discovering hidden truths. We all have a lot to gain by supporting and amplifying black artists. The next time you visit an art gallery or museum, check out the work by black artists. You might just find yourself moved in unexpected ways. And if you're an artist yourself, consider how you can make space for and amplify other voices. Art has power, so use your power for good.