Black in Every Color launched “Ours,” a new art exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood in celebration of Black History Month on Friday, Jan. 26.
The emerging Black artist series highlights artists of color from around the world and serves as a beacon for conversation, ideas, and support to uplift communities in the fine arts world by connecting them with like-minded artists.
“Our mission is to make Black History every day,” declared Director Josiah David Jones. “This show reimagines what our fine arts space looks like. We want to set the example that through art we can create space for ourselves to be creatively free and express everything freely.
“These artists are setting the example for the next artists, and everything is the seedling for what we want to see the fine arts space being in the long run,” he said.
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Multimedia fine artist Mary Harris stated, “My work is for 400 years from now. I’m doing oil paintings that are ‘old master’ [paintings of original master print]. As people of color, we should take some time to invest in something that’s going to be around.
“When you go to a museum, those pieces are there because they have longevity. Buy Black art that’s actually valuable and take time to educate yourself about the purchase. [Jean-Michel] Basquiat sold $2.6 billion over a 12-year period. If we own our art, we can become wealthy people once again,” she assured.
Fashion image-maker Liam Woods noted, “I feel Black trans and non-binary voices are underrepresented within our community. With my art, I focus within these communities that have meant a lot to me growing up. Being non-binary myself, it’s a big deal.
“I want to make art that celebrates joy instead of centering on the pain and isolation that we go through alone. I want future trans and non-binary Black voices to be able to witness my work and see that you do have a place to celebrate yourself, to feel loved and seen, and have a safe haven of community.”
The work of muralist Brittney S. Price is being considered for display at the Paris Summer Olympic Games.
“It’s just a reminder that we’re so much bigger than we think we are,” she said. Sankofa [Ghanaian Twi for ‘to retrieve’] is a big theme for my life — having knowledge of the past and present and how that informs your future. Within my work, I try to incorporate all three because time is not linear.
“I’m not the best painter in the world, but I have a message: love myself, my people, my history, and understand the diaspora [Greek for ‘scattering’]. My [speaking] voice may be small, but really, I’m a lion! The reason I create through paint is because it allows me to be as big and as large as I want to be. I have found a lot of myself and my power through painting,” she said.
“Ours” by Black in Every Color also features works by Micaiah Carter, Dom King, Isis Dua, Kipkemoi, Kader Ampka, Natasha Rivero, Peyton the artist, Carrington Mitchell, Jonah Elijah, Dez Porter, Andre Woolery, Doug Hickman Jr, Kodjovi Sevon, Brandon Gastinell, Yashua Bloom, Shaylen Nelson, and Stvteoftheart.
The Black History Month exhibit continues through March 29 at Andaz West Hollywood, a 239-room Hyatt hotel located at 8401 W. Sunset Boulevard in the heart of WeHo.
For more information, visit https://www.valence.studio/biec
