“Ann Tanksley’s work tells a story. It is an autobiography of her inner spirit melded with her experiences and travel; at other times it is about social injustices and the universal plight of rural workers. She retells stories. She visually interprets the prose of Zora Neale Hurston. Ann is a “social commentator” who would like people to understand her through her work and to understand her point of view. She communicates through the figures of the paintings rather than through abstract expression; even though there is an “Abstract Expressionist” quality to her work”.
Accessed 4/26/19, http://www.artjaz.com/artists/59.html
Carlos Diaz is a Peruvian Artist that I met in London. I acquired my vibrant works of art directly from Carlos at the weekend street Art fair along the walls of Green park.
“Carlos Diaz, was born in Trujillo…His early years living and studying in the mountains and jungles developed an understanding for the indigenous Indians and Mestizos influenced his art.
Carlos left Peru in 1966 for England to study in St. Ives, Cornwall; while working as a pigment specialist, Carlos learned about the chemical composition of paint. He began to mix his own colours directly from natural pigments. This knowledge of paint composition has allowed him to experiment with industrial materials such as synthetics, metals, plastics and nylon papers as alternatives to ordinary canvas…”
Accessed 4/29/19, London Life: Piccadilly Art Market, Green Park | urban75 blog; www.urban75.org/blog/london-life-piccadilly-art-market-green-park/
“Dr. Cora Marshall was born in Washington DC and is an artist and educator. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Howard University; Master of Science in Education from Bank Street College of Education with Parsons School of Design; and her doctorate in art from NYU. Dr. Marshall is a Professor of Art Emeritus at Central Connecticut State University and served as chairperson. Dr. Marshall’s current research focuses on contemporary women artist of color, in particular, African American and Native American women artists. Dr. Marshall received the Lifetime Contribution to the Arts Award (2014) from the Greater New Britain Arts”.
Accessed 4/28/19, http://www.coramarshall.com/Artist.asp?ArtistID=47105&Akey=X679CJP9&ajx=1
https://www.hplct.org/assets/uploads/files/about/in-the-news/2011feb04Artist CoraMarshall.pdf
One of Jamaica’s most talented artists, Nakazzi Hutchinson, graduated from the Sculpture department at the Jamaica School of Art at the top of her year. “Artist Nakazzi Hutchinson is the daughter of Barbados’ Dr Ikael Tafari, and famous Jamaican Artist, Dawn Scott. Jamaican born and Barbadian bred. Name "Nakazzi" means 'Woman of Substance'“
Dirk Joseph has evolved as an artist since his “Great Detractor” and “Chant Down Babylon” stopped me dead in my tracks 70 yards away on a busy Brooklyn Street by Boys and Girls High School. The art and music fair was lackluster until I saw an artist with the need to extricate what was not just and truthful.
In his own words: “Before the notion of being an artist ever occurred to me, the process of "creating art" was as compulsory, subtle and vital as the exchange of breath. In my youth, art was play at it's most sacred, honest and intimate. It was how I explored what I perceived to be the forces composing and influencing my existence. I discovered early that imaginative play allows us to create particularly specific simulations that we can use to explore previously observed narratives, as well as bring into existence emergent narratives from personal spaces”.
Accessed 4/29/19 https://dirkjart.weebly.com/recent-paintings.html
Dwight is a Canadian Artist, who has been painting for over 40 years. He describes his work as “ Contemporary Realism:” Dwight started out in Water colors and Acrylic and has now, as he puts it; “….developed a style of big—brush impressionistic strokes ans subtle squares juxtaposed with highly define focal points…” Accessed 4/29/2019, http://dwightbaird.com/
Barrington Watson was born January 9th in Lucea in 1931. “He ultimately followed his artistic yearnings by enrolling at the Royal College of Art in London, studied at Académie de la Grande Chaumière in Paris and the Rijksacademie in Amsterdam, and returned to the first Director of Studies at the Jamaica School of Art and co-founded the Contemporary Jamaican Artists' Association (1964–74). He later served as visiting professor at Spelman College, Atlanta. In 1967 he won a prize at the first Spanish Biennale at Barcelona. In 2000 he was awarded a Gold Musgrave Medal by the Institute of Jamaica. Watson has exhibited throughout Jamaica and internationally. He is the father of sculptors Basil Watson and Raymond Watson. Watson is the subject of Lennie Little-White's 2015 documentary film They Call Me Barrington. He died on 26 January 2016 at the age of 85”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrington_Watson
”Raymond Watson has lived and worked in Jamaica, Trinidad, and London, and exhibited across the Caribbean, the United States, South America and England. He has mounted public sculptures in London, Kingston, and Port of Spain, as well as being represented in private collections world-wide. In 1990, along with brother Basil Watson, he mounted Sculpture in the Park an outdoor exhibition of life size sculptures in New Kingston, Jamaica. In 1994, Raymond moved to London to work and subsequently mounted the First Child commission in 1998 at Max Roach Park, Brixton. He has since returned to live and work in Jamaica. His work continues to be a synthesis of influences, born as much out of process as concept.” Source: https://petrinearcher.com/
Ramond Watson continues to on the powerful journey: “Jamaican Artist, Basil Watson, Who Sculpted Atlanta’s New MLK Statue Says It Is ‘A Dream Come True’” January 17, 2021, https://www.caribbeannationalweekly.com/
Henry Lowe was born August 1960 in Jamaica. He studied at the Edna Manley School of Visual & Performing Arts. He is considered a neo-impressionist landscape painter and is an Art Teacher, which adds to his perspective on art. He is inspired by the beautiful environment of St. Mary, especially Annotto Bay.
Son of Henry Lowe: Henry Grandison (images to be added)
Henry was born in Annotto Bay, St. Mary, Jamaica. Throughout childhood he was exposed to fine art, which was an everyday activity in his home. He is a graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts where he studied Art Education and Painting. He was the top of his classes in drawing classes and ranked in the top five in Painting… He taught himself about the process of making comics and graphic design so as to create his first comic book. He currently owns his own comic book publishing company, with the hopes to encourage young people to draw sequential art and create creative worlds with characters that Afro-Caribbean persons can relate to. His father, Henry Grandison, is a Neo-impressionist landscape painter and Art Teacher aided. Abstracted from Mr. Grandison’s bio.
MaroonBlack (@MaroonBlackjm) | Twitter Accessed 4/25/19
“Sculpture” houses the works of Gene Pearson (“Ceramic face”, Raymond Watson “First Child”) and an unknown artist, “African Mark”.
“Gene Pearson’s influence on the making of ceramics in Jamaica is staggering. His stylised ceramic heads have become his trademark and their haunting profiles have influenced many potters and painters locally and abroad. Trained at the Jamaica School of Art (Edna Manley School of Art) his work shows the stylistic influence of peers such as Christopher Gonzales and conceptual links to pioneers such as Osmond Watson.
Gene Pearson began working with forms that were a stylistic blend of African Baule masks, Egyptian sculpture and his own Jamaican sensibility with all its references to ‘roots’ culture and Rastafari. The result was a form of sculpture/ceramic object that referenced classical forms of proportion, portrayed the African physiognomy with refined dignity and evoked a sense mythical African ancestry. ..” Petrine Archer. petrinearcher.com/artist-bio/gene-pearson
One of Jamaica’s most talented artists, Nakazzi Hutchinson, graduated from the Sculpture department at the Jamaica School of Art at the top of her year. “Artist Nakazzi Hutchinson is the daughter of Barbados’ Dr Ikael Tafari, and famous Jamaican Artist, Dawn Scott. Jamaican born and Barbadian bred. Name "Nakazzi" means 'Woman of Substance'“
Images to be added: London Vase, Istanbul Vase, Venezuela mask
Two of my ceramic finds, the first purchase in Turkey hurriedly bought so as we need to get on the boat headed down the Bosporus. The other piece was bought in Kensington, London on a Saturday stroll.
Born in Ghana, West Africa, TAFA is an award-winning painter whose work is exhibited and collected internationally. His style is characterized by a richly vivid palette and heavily textured surface. TAFA was named 2010 Sport Artist of the Year by the American Sport Art Museum and Archives. His abstract oil paintings are depicted by strong Social, Political, Religious statements in audacious brilliant colors. His abstract Sports and Music paintings portray both activities with the energy one would only expect from an actual performance.
“My paintings are my drum song, my dance of the soul,”
“I am like the divine drummer,” says TAFA, “trying to materialize the transient, the spiritual, to search the soul of our hopes, fears and visions.”
This search sometimes births art that confronts and challenges or art that elevates and inspires. “Creating art is a cosmological journey, it is mirrored in the experience of the collective consciousness of all who search for the truth. Delving into my being is not paramount, what is pivotal is reaching into the internal spaces that have created eternity of memory, our primordial memories.” TAFA obtained a BFA degree from the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He lives in Harlem, NY.
https://www.divart.com/artists/271/tafa-fiadzigbe-artwork-for-sale-by-diva-art-group?bio=true&w=1
Works on paper comes largely from my work with the Center for Contemporary Art in Norwalk. The founder and matriarch Grace Shanley was the soul of the place. Master Printer Tony Kirk sparked the quality and energy from Artists to Collectors.
Constellations, Howardina Pindell, “Born in Philadelphia in 1943, Howardena Pindell studied painting at Boston University and Yale University. After graduating, she accepted a job in the Department of Prints and Illustrated Books at the Museum of Modern Art, where she remained for 12 years (1967–1979). In 1979, she began teaching at the State University of New York, Stony Brook where she is now a full professor. Throughout her career, Pindell has exhibited extensively. Notable solo-exhibitions include: Spelman College (1971, Atlanta), A.I.R. Gallery (1973, 1983, New York), Just Above Midtown (1977, New York), Lerner-Heller Gallery (1980, 1981, New York), The Studio Museum in Harlem (1986, New York), the Wadsworth Atheneum (1989, Hartford), Cyrus Gallery (1989, New York), G.R. N’Namdi Gallery (1992, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2006, Chicago, Detroit, and New York), Garth Greenan Gallery, New York (2014), and Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, Atlanta (2015).”
https://www.howardenapindell.org/
Alexander Campbell, a Jamaican Master from St. Mary.
Joshua Alexander Cooper is a major Jamaican painter who emerged during the Independence period. He was an early student of the then Jamaica School of Art and Craft in the 1950s and also attended the New York School of Visual Art and the Art Student League.
https://nationalgalleryofjamaica.wordpress.com/tag/alexander-cooper/
Tony’s Weights, Peri Schwartz, MonoPrint. Peri Schwartz grew up in Far Rockaway, NY. She received her BFA from Boston University’s School of Fine Arts and her MFA from Queens College. She lives and works in New Rochelle, NY. Her paintings, prints and drawings focus on composition and the interplay of color, light and space. Her work is in museum collections in the US and Europe. http://www.perischwartz.com/cv/
William McCarthy, 22x29.5”, MonoPrint, “I know that my best oil paintings develop out of memories of landscapes from both the recent and distant past. I understand the creative process that is best for me and I know what to do with it. I no longer have to reinvent the wheel when starting each new painting because I have a clear sense of how it should develop.” https://www.williammccarthyart.com/collected-art-gallery-4
Noami Silverman
“My art deals with nuances and subtitles, the shifting shadows of social issues. I explore this through the human figure—that fragile mortal vessel that contains our most basic selves— and use my abiding love of drawing as a path to express innate concerns about liberty, about fear and about hope.
Some of my topics are as simple as an individual’s need for work, for sustenance, for shelter and yes, for love. Others are as geopolitically volatile as the indignities people suffer when they lose their basic freedoms. The body, that seemingly transcendent creation of blood, of tissues, of sinews, reveals and reflects all those ideas and issues. It is through this incarnate and fragile form that we hope to bestride the world, yet all too often cower in its shadows. And it is by means of charcoal, ink and paint that I celebrate, agonize and weep over this life, whether it is in the glare hurtling off of an arm wrenched by jailers or the shifting glow on necks entwined in an embrace.”
Vladimir Zeuv, 22x29.5”, MonoPrint’ Vladimir Zuev. Graduated from Graphic Art Faculty of State Teachers’ Training Institute in Nizhny Tagil 1976-1981. Practiced in printmaking workshop of Republic House of Artists “Cheliuskinskaya”, Moscow, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, two months each year.
“Emma Amos (1937-2020) was a pioneering artist, educator, and activist. A dynamic painter and masterful colorist, her commitment to interrogating the art-historical status quo yielded a body of vibrant and intellectually rigorous work. Influenced by modern Western European art, Abstract Expressionism, the Civil Rights movement and feminism, Amos was drawn to exploring the politics of culture and issues of racism, sexism, and ethnocentrism in her art. "It's always been my contention," Amos once said, "that for me, a black woman artist, to walk into the studio is a political act." Amos became a member of Spiral, an important African-American collective in 1964, but found that the effort for black representation in the art world often omitted women. She then became involved in various underground feminist collectives, including Heresies from 1982 to 1993, and the trailblazing Guerilla Girls group after its founding in 1985.
Born in segregated Atlanta, GA, Amos graduated from Antioch College in Ohio in 1958 and went on to study at the Central School of Art in London. Upon finishing her studies in England, Amos moved to New York City. Though she eventually became active in the downtown arts scene, working alongside prominent artists such as Romare Bearden, Hale Woodruff, Norman Lewis, Alvin Hollingsworth and Charles Alston, Amos struggled to find her footing in the city, finding that considerable obstacles were drawn up against her because of her age, gender and race. She earned her Masters in Arts from New York University in 1965 and went on to teach art at the Dalton School in New York. In 1980, she became a professor and later chair of the Visual Arts department at the Mason Gross School of Art at Rutgers University. The Estate of Emma Amos is represented by Ryan Lee Gallery, NYC.” - Center for Contemporary Print Art. https://contemprints.org/about/
Sculptures in the collection range from Raymond Watson’s First Child, to African Masks, to wood carvings picked up in places such as Durban South Africa, Zimbabwe, Dominican Republic, and Negril Jamaica. Raymond Watson was born in 1958, in London, England. Watson (a member of the Watson Art Dynasty) attended the Jamaica School of Art , attaining a Diploma in Sculpture in 1981, and presently teaches there. He has exhibited his sculptures as well as executed public commissions locally and overseas… In 2007, he was inducted in the Hall of Fame of the Caribbean Foundation for the Arts.” Source: National Gallery of Jamaica.
Conrad Stone, “using the wood of our national flower (Lignum Vitae) to express his creativity, has won Clarendonian Conrad Stone, first place in the 2018 Jamaica Visual Arts Competition. With entries received in seven categories: painting, photography, drawing, collage, printmaking, textiles and fiber arts and sculpture/assemblage, Stone wowed the judges with his fantastically detailed wooden sculptures. Source: Jamaican Gleaner.
“Conard Stone was born in Thompson town, Clarendon, Jamaica. He was inspired to carve at the age of 9 by his friends and family, when he started carving platboard pieces. Then by the age of 14 he was introduced to his first sculpture teacher Lancelot Bryan by “rasta Eddie” at the might gully youth project where they were specializing Lignum Vitae. On his first day his teacher Lancelot Bryan showed him a few of his sculpture pieces to show young Conard what he would be practicing to achieve. The first few art pieces shown were very interesting and exciting to Conard. They were female torso and female bust. Conard was amazed that his teacher could get such Three-dimensional forms out of wood. His teacher’s artwork truly inspired him. After seeing the level of talent his teacher had, he promised himself that he will reach his teacher’s level no matter what. In practice the first set of tools Conard learned to use were the wood file, sandpaper and hatchet, and after mastering the above, he finally started using a Chisel. He achieved better understanding in shaping and refining the “ligi” wood. After using Chisel to finally detail the “Ligi” wood, he naturally developed his own techniques and style of carving like nubean twits, figures, shackle man, etc. Now Conard is a master carver at the might gully youth with students of his own. “ Source: https://www.artsynature.com/artists/sculptures-by-conard-stone-jamaica/
Conrad tragically passed away at an early age April 12, 2022.
Mazola Wa Mwashinghadi (Kenyan living in Jamaica)
“Mazola wa Mwashighadi was born on April 9, 1964 in the Taita–Taveta District of Kenya. No one slept at all that night as the new born baby wailed, as if to signify his displeasure on being ushered into a world of so much light in darkness. He has had his equal share of physical pain, but it seems as if the philosophical bug had bitten him so early in life that he would grind the pain to gain.
Maternal grandmother was a freed slave who had been brought all the way from the present day Malawi to be sold in Mombasa Kenya. By a stroke of luck slavery was abolished and the freed slaves were settled in Free Town, Mombasa. While working for a Missionary she met Mawala Ole Sang’oiri – a Maasai from Taveta who also worked for another Missionary in Taita.This kind of lineage combined by being named after his Great Great Grandfather who was a “Mundu Wa Fighi” ( Guardian of the community) and also involved in ‘Kuwada M’dumba’ (ceremonies for the sacrificing for rain) is what forms the basis of Mazola’s identity but does not define him.
The advent of foreign religions signaled the decline of my peoples’ spirituality and so in my work and life reclaiming, re-imagining, re-living in creating work that is Ritualistically representative bridging together, the past, the present and the future, visualizing them as one in continuum.
Never had any formal art education as such, but was always surrounded by music, dance, traditional architecture. We created our own toys, including musical instruments. Always got punished for writing letters to girls as early as eight years old. Ironically these writing skills became the foundation of my Art through writing poetry after allegations of wanting to instigate a strike at Khamis High School in Mombasa against the yellow cornmeal being served to the boarders. In 1980 there was a big famine in Kenya and so USA had sent this kind of flour to alleviate the suffering. There was no procedure and no witnesses produced. After two weeks suspension I returned as a day scholar. Poetry became my way of protest. Worked on ships at the Kilindini Harbou on weekends. Sometimes hanging on the shipside chipping the rust away, in readiness for paint.
Attended Asumbi Teachers Training college from 1985 to 1987. I had my Artistic Revival here. First time sitting and working in an Art Room. Taught at Mwawache Primary School, mostly Art and Craft. Unknowingly I was learning wood too.
Art beckoned. I studied Fine Art at The Creative Art Centre in Nairobi Kenya. Had to live in Kibera, one of the worst slums in Africa as I attended my classes in the afternoon while teaching in the morning at Mashimoni Primary School.
The hardships became fodder for my inspiration. Winning the Commonwealth Art and Craft Award for the Africa Region 1996/97 culminated in studying Free Form Sculpture at The Edna Manley Collage of The Visual and Performing Arts in Kingston Jamaica from 1997-1998.
Today, I am living and working in Jamaica, fusing Poetry, Music, Storytelling, sometimes all on one plane.” Source: http://mazolawamwashighadi.com/bio/
Emmanual Anaiye - Nigerian
Nigerian Impressionist – Emmanuel Anaiye: “Art is a means of self-expression. I am a storyteller. Join me on this visual journey because the journey is a reward.” Emmanuel Anaiye artistic expression takes a critical view of social challenges, such as child education, abuse, domestic violence, and cultural issues. He says. In portraying African women and children, my work explores the varying relationships between facial expression and fine art. I do believe in the saying that the face is a window to a person’s soul, so I create art that means different things to people. In my 2019 painting The Fruit Of Silence a woman is carrying a fruit and the fruit is what the world sees but her mouth is tied, and she can't really speak what is in her heart for various reason.
“Nedia Were is a self-taught contemporary artist, born and raised in Kenya. Living and working in Nairobi currently. The deep passion for art started way back during his childhood. He used to copy cartoons from comic books and newspaper and experimenting on different materials. He was a sign writer during his teenage years. Over the years Nedia has harnessed his own unique style which has been influenced by sign writing experience. Sparked by his grandfather who would carry a newspaper on his way home after a hard days work, Nedia was fascinated by the numerous articles and found a deep connection with the newspaper which will also reflect in his work.”
https://www.nediawere.com/about
“Coster Ojwang is a 27 years old Kenyan artist practicing and living in Nairobi. He studied art at The Mwangaza Art School in kisumu in 2013. He graduated from the school in 2015 and immediately moved to Nairobi. He started practicing his art in drawing,painting and collage. He is an expressive painter and a lover of bold strokes and bold bolours which can be seen in his works. He draws his inspirations from his own life experiences, places he's been to, people around him and wildlife. Coster Ojwang's art has been exhibited in The National Museum of Kenya, Golbourn Australia, St.Francis Gallery MA USA, and The Netherlands.”
Coster's latest exhibitions were: The Contemporary Impressionism at Fairmont the Norfolk Hotel (SOLO), The Talisman Restaurant art show (SOLO), Why I love Kenya at Polka Dot Art Gallery, This Is My Story with Ismael Katterrega at The Polka Dot Art Gallery.
Artist's Statement: "As an artist, I believe that painting should be a celebration of life, places we have been, people we have interacted with and the general beauty that surround. I am a devoted student of light, colour, design and form. From these I get my inspirations.Before I pick on a particular subject to work with, it has to evoke a feeling or a mood in me. I then try to capture the diversity of the scenes and the figures that I work with. I am a free painter with a never-ending hunger for knowledge and new discoveries and so most of the times I even surprise myself. I always remind myself to stay open to positive changes and innovative ways of painting and this is how I get to motivate myself as I move forward." - Coster Ojwang
https://www.costerojwang.com/artist_bio/
“Jimmy Kitheka was born in 1993 in Kenya and he currently lives and works in Nairobi. After high school, he took part in many workshops with internationally renowned artists. For five years he worked together with Patrick Mukabi at his studio until Jimmy together with some of his colleagues, opened his own atelier, The Hive Art Studio.”
Angela Wambui is a passionate Kenyan painter who's artistic journey intertwines with her personal experiences. With a profound focus on capturing the essence of human emotions, Wambui fearlessly embraces femininity and celebrates the beauty of blackness through her artworks. Guided by an insatiable curiosity, she fearlessly experiments. with various mediums, though acrylics, oils, and glass beads stand as her dominant tools, as honed from her background in jewelry making.
For Wambui, art is a boundless form of expression that serves as a powerful catalyst for raising awareness on pressing societal issues. Her artistic pilgrimage began at a tender age... solace and strength in her mother's unwavering support as a single parent. \As she continues to evolve as an artist, Wambui envisions empowering young female artists in the future, knowing the transformative impact art can have on one's life—where art becomes her personal diary, each stroke revealing a captivating narrative of her journey. - Artist Statement
MANYAKU MASHILO, Getting lost in foreign places, 2023, Acrylic, ink on canvas , (framed) 158 x 288 x 5 cm.
‘Manyaku Mashilo, born in 1991, is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist who creates mixed media and paper-based drawings. Mashilo’s work offers a perspective on self-representation, desire, geography, and spirituality and her practice focuses on visualizing black identities that possess agency, compassion, and humanity to create an accurate archive of who and how black bodies are identified today. Mashilo’s intimate images serve as a gateway to ponder the complexities of black existence. Her work explores complex associations with a journey by providing a symbolic language, gatherings, and notes to the traveler.” Source: https://editorial.latitudes.online/viewing-rooms/manyaku-mashilo/
Joel Mamboka, Cape Town, South Africa
“I am a fine-artist with a Congolese background, who portraits our everyday hero in abstract and impressionistic art forms. My motives are diverse members of African society and communities, from the street dancer, fisherman to hairdresser.” Education: 2014, Graduation degree in fine arts at the Academy of Fine Arts Kinshasa, Dem Rep, Congo. 2009: Sate Diploma, equivalent to the Bachelor of Fine Arts at the institute of fine Arts Kinshasa.
