Kerry James Marshall

Although Kerry James Marshall currently lives and works in Chicago, Illinois, his time spent in Watts, Los Angeles, California where he observed the Black Power and Civil Rights movements had a significant impact on his paintings. Strongly influenced by his experiences as a young man, he developed a signature style during his early years as an artist that involved the use of extremely dark, essentially black figures. These images represent his perspective of African Americans with separate and distinct inner and outer appearances. At the same time, they confront racial stereotypes within contemporary American society.

Kehinde Wiley

Check out more of Kehinde Wiley's work on his website here.

Everyday I'm hustlin'

I love this comedy sketch by Katt Williams. It's too funny. I've been working non stop the past couple months to save up to be able to get back to California and get back into my art work. And I just got word the other day that I was accepted as an Artist in Residence in Mendocino, California. I can't wait to get back into my art 24/7! It's 'bout time.

Nienke Klunder

Nienke Klunder makes some amazing transformations to tell a story within her photography or through what you could call a photo-essay or series. Each is unique, powerful and runs the gamut for emotional range. The series above is simply titled, ‘Sequence 5′ and is really amazing. The images are undeniably thought provoking and really dive headlong into some interesting aspects of the human condition in the context of modern social norms and culture.

This series, from a soldier to a clown, is actually a lot more gradual – I’ve only included half the images.

Nikki S. Lee

After observing particular subcultures and ethnic groups, Nikki S. Lee adopts their general style and attitude through dress, gesture, and posture, and then approaches the group in her new guise. She introduces herself as an artist (though not everyone believes her or takes it seriously), and then spends several weeks participating in the group’s routine activities and social events while a friend or member of the group photographs her with an ordinary automatic “snapshot” camera. Lee maintains control of the final image, however, insofar as she chooses when to ask for a picture and edits what photographs will eventually be displayed.

Li Wei

Li Wei work is a cobination of performance art and photography that creates the illusion of a sometimes dangerous reality. Li Wei states that these images are not computer montages and are made with the help of props such as mirror, metal wires, scaffolding and acrobatics. The humor that comes out of some of his pieces I find extremely clever and done just right -which can be hard to do sometimes in art.

Juan Muñoz

I have had the pleasure of seeing Juan Muñoz, Spanish sculptor's work in Portugal as well as Spain. His figures with balloon like bottom halves have always attracted me in their gestures and simplicity. He sadly died very young at the young age of 48 but managed to gain international recognition before his death.

Kiki Smith

R.I.P. Louise Bourgeois