✨ T E G A A K P O K O N A ✨
Tega Akpokona
The Bliss of Centeredness, 2022
Oil on canvas
67 x 72 inches
Private Collection
@tega.akpokona ✨
Using a combination of imagery drawn from memory, observation from life and improvisation, Tega Akpokona (b. 1991) creates atmospheric and figurative paintings, intentionally liberated from specific points in time that examine various aspects of the human condition as forged by cultural influences. Drawing on personal life experiences and his admiration of great artworks from art history, which he views as a continuum, his work reflects on present-day realities and issues associated with the human condition, identity and politics of the black body, regalia, and the juxtaposition of diverse cultural notions exploring postcolonial cultural hybridization. Light is a central theme in his work as he plays with the effects of dramatic chiaroscuro and rich colors to portray his subjects as divine beings. The viewer is invited on a journey of self-reflection and interpretations, nuanced by their individual perceptions of reality. Tega lives and works in Lagos.
#TegaAkpokona #Lagos #Nigeria
#OilPainter #BeUnique #BeDifferent
#OilOnCanvas #BlackArt #RobertFrost
#RoadLessTraveled #Poetry #Art
#BlackIsBeautiful #BlackPainters
#KerryJamesMarshall #FigurativeArt
#ArtificialRealism #Flowers #Blackness
#GeorgeCondo #Surrealism #Plants
✨ T A R I Q O L I V E R ✨
Tariq Oliver
Judge and George, 2022
Acrylic, oil pastel, charcoal
and color pencil on canvas
30 x 30 inches
Private Collection
@tariq_oliver ✨
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and having lived in London, Madrid and Spain, Tariq Oliver is a contemporary artist embarking on a career to bring innovation to the ever-changing art world. His inspiration derives from the harsh realities he has faced throughout his lifetime.
His work in the contemporary space challenges the cruel nature of human society by depicting chaotic, distorted versions of traditionally orderly scenarios. His paintings are heavily influenced by his life, experiences, moods, and thoughts. His artwork is often perceived as multifaceted experiences that induce the audience to be in touch with an emotional exploration of people.
His artwork also offers multiple perspectives that stray from traditional schools of thought. He utilizes acrylic paints, oil pastels, charcoal, and pigment sticks to craft his paintings. He is based in Newark, NJ.
#Nigeria #BlackArt #BlackIsBeautiful #BlackPainters #KerryJamesMarshall #FigurativeArt #ArtificialRealism #Flowers #Blackness #GeorgeCondo #Surrealism
“I tend to think having that extreme of color — that kind of black — is amazingly beautiful… and powerful. What I was thinking to do with my image was to reclaim the image of blackness as an emblem of power.” - @kerryjamesmarshs
Olasunkanmi Akomolehin
Times of Renaissance, 2022
Oil and acrylic on canvas
36 x 36 inches
Private Collection
@olasunkanmi_akomolehin ✨
#Nigeria #BlackArt #BlackIsBeautiful
#KerryJamesMarshall #BlackPainters
#FigurativeArt #Flowers #Blackness
@ralphlauren x @troyjonesartist ✨
Troy Jones
Polo Bear, 2023
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
(cropped image)
Congratulations, Troy! Keep growing 🌱
And now a word from the artist:
I would like to thank Melvin, Herb, Kelly and the whole team at the Ralph Lauren flagship store on Madison Ave. I had a wonderful time giving an artist talk to the team for Black History Month. Also included is an image that was created in conjunction with this event. Thank you again and I look forward to our future endeavors.
#TroyJones #RalphLauren #PoloBear
#Art #BlackArt #BlackHistoryMonth
Mary Jane by Troy Jones
Troy Jones
Mary Jane, 2022
Oil on canvas
60 x 48 inches
@troyjonesartist ✨
The aim of my art is to shine a bright light on the lasting impact that the African diaspora has had on the African American experience. In my latest body of work, which are mostly large scale oil paintings, I employ a motif of African tribal masks donned by contemporary African Americans because I’ve been called to further narrate the story of African Americans in today’s society.
And while my subjects tend to carry a distinctly urban style and aesthetic, drawing viewers to their aura of modernity and confidence, their masks function as a direct link to their African heritage. In this way, the masks symbolize protection, guidance, vitality, and spirit. They’re also an allegory to hidden histories and cultural preservation. As a result, subjects embody aspects of what it means to be African American.
We need to see ourselves in the right light and it’s my hope that my work can bring light to us. One important question that I attempt to answer in my work is, How can African Americans contribute so much to the world and still not be seen? We’ve played a major role in the history of this nation so it would only be right for us to be recognized for it, but we aren’t. Instead, our contributions are largely erased or stolen and we’re rendered invisible.
The masks show the true spirit of African Americans at times and hide that spirit at other times. This type of duality creates a lot of complexities for us as humans. Therefore, my goal as an artist is to uplift African Americans and to reconnect us with our African spirit, the one thing that society can not take from us, no matter how often it refuses to see us, simply because that spirit is deep within us and it’s what we’ve inherited from our ancestors. What’s important is that we continue to see our selves and see one another for who we truly are.
Brother’s Keeper by Troy Jones
Troy Jones
Brother’s Keeper, 2022
Oil on canvas
60 x 48 inches
@troyjonesartist ✨
The aim of my art is to shine a bright light on the lasting impact that the African diaspora has had on the African American experience. In my latest body of work, which are mostly large scale oil paintings, I employ a motif of African tribal masks donned by contemporary African Americans because I’ve been called to further narrate the story of African Americans in today’s society.
And while my subjects tend to carry a distinctly urban style and aesthetic, drawing viewers to their aura of modernity and confidence, their masks function as a direct link to their African heritage. In this way, the masks symbolize protection, guidance, vitality, and spirit. They’re also an allegory to hidden histories and cultural preservation. As a result, subjects embody aspects of what it means to be African American.
We need to see ourselves in the right light and it’s my hope that my work can bring light to us. One important question that I attempt to answer in my work is, How can African Americans contribute so much to the world and still not be seen? We’ve played a major role in the history of this nation so it would only be right for us to be recognized for it, but we aren’t. Instead, our contributions are largely erased or stolen and we’re rendered invisible.
The masks show the true spirit of African Americans at times and hide that spirit at other times. This type of duality creates a lot of complexities for us as humans. Therefore, my goal as an artist is to uplift African Americans and to reconnect us with our African spirit, the one thing that society can not take from us, no matter how often it refuses to see us, simply because that spirit is deep within us and it’s what we’ve inherited from our ancestors. What’s important is that we continue to see our selves and see one another for who we truly are.
Black Cowboy ✨
Charica Daugherty
After a Day’s Work, the Black
American Cowboy, 2022
Oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
(Cropped image)
Few images embody the spirit of the American West as well as the trailblazing, sharpshooting, horseback-riding cowboy of American lore. And though African-American cowboys don’t play a part in the popular narrative, historians estimate that one in four cowboys were black. African-American cowboys may still be underrepresented in popular accounts of the West, but the work of scholars such as Katz and Hardaway and cowboys like Hearn keep the memories and undeniable contributions of the early African-American cowboys alive.
#BlackCowboy #WildWildWest
#OilPainting #ContemporaryArt
