A tweet by @Culture Type, "Music power couple Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz buy paintings by emerging artist Tschabalala Self" (July 27, 2019, twitter.com), pushed me to lend a voice to the conversation on “why African American Art is Hot,” “Having a Moment”.
After weeks of procrastination and perhaps doubt about the value of my musings to contribute, to advance a dialogue as to “why African American Art is Hot,” “Having a Moment. Where to start? Google Search, of course! Did the google search: - “why African American Art is hot” produce a deluge of data, reams of information? Not! I did find the musings of “Art Guy’s" Charles Desmarais’ “Why is African American art having a moment?” (Datebook.sfchronicle.com, June 2, 2019) and Susan Adams’ “Why African-American Art Is So Hot” (Forbes.com Dec. 3, 2008) insightful. So, this “moment” question is at least 11 years old! It’s a “moment” decade, if not centuries building, in the making, and maybe, we can all agree, a long time coming. Yet, the frame of the question, however well meaning, highlights the need for more (black, diverse) curators, educators, collectors to provide different points of views. Despite African American Art’s current popularity and success, a “moment” if you will, there is a paucity of analysis, both lay and scholarly, covering the past, present, and future trends of the broad and deep African American Art market.
From my point of view, it is about Dreams Dried up (exploded), Dreams Deferred, Dreams Coming Through, and Dreams to Come. The forces behind this movement may be varied, but similar to Virginia Wolf’s thesis that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is to write fiction”, this “moment” required Social and Political Freedom (Civil Rights, Black Power, “Black is Beautiful,” and Black Lives Matter movements), Economic Power (Business people, Celebrities, Athletes with material discretionary income), and an added element, “Paradigm Shifts” toward inclusion, namely being judged by the contents of one’s character and the inalienable right to belong….
The question “Why African American Art is Hot" is skin-deep. I believe it ignores the complex sociocultural, economic, and political legacy of America. It allows for the possibility that progress is fleeting (and it might be) and does not recognize the pain of dreams exploded and deferred. Art is our mirror. I wonder what the updated history of American Art books look like... and will look like? How much will we, have we moved beyond Tanner, Bannister, & Basquiat?
Not much is certain, but I bet this “moment” grows, continues, and lasts. The in the moment, seemingly fevered effort of museums and big money auction houses to acquire, trade in African American Art perhaps support the optimism. For centuries, Africans and the African Diaspora have created a body of diverse, phenomenal art. The Power of Art affirms who we are. It is the air to our fire, inseparable.
Mid-career artists can aspire without lamenting and warning when aspirations are dashed. Emerging Artist should, must give homage that “Mother to Son” motivation still applies, but perhaps more for them to strive to know more than their curators, investors, and be recognized and enriched early in life. In addition to the Rashid Johnson, Hank Willis Thomas, and Jordan Casteel, I am blown away by the breadth and depth of the talent practicing worldwide, in the great academies, on Instagram, and "True Reflections" gallery owners willing, building a room of their own. Those who study will be rewarded.
Author: The Art Hedger
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