Buchi Upjohn Aghaji

“Art is only as good as the feelings it produces within us. That is why I reach within searching for my experiences to paint from them…my good experiences.”

Nigerian born artist, Buchi Upjohn Aghaji dips his brush into vastly different hues when creating his works. He expresses his art through a variety of media including oil, watercolor and acrylic on cold-pressed paper, canvas, burlap, wood and pottery. The result is a refreshing change from the contemporary trend in Afro-centric painting. Aghaji says he was always interested in painting, his studies at the university steered him into the advertising field where he worked for a year in Nigeria. It wasn’t until he moved to England that he realized he could pursue his painting full time.

Always open to travel and new experiences, Aghaji decided to move to the United States. He spent three years in New York where he says at first his work was met with some resistance due to its break from tradition. He has held fast to the idea that "An appreciation and enjoyment of a thing of beauty is a freeing experience in itself". One must have that freedom to appreciate and interpret the beauty of art. This explains why his work takes a semi-abstract quality yet possessing a vibrancy that makes you stop and take notice of the rhythm of the painting.

He also uses the traditional "Uli" motifs found in his tribe, the Igbos of Nigeria that displays a unique form of expression. Uli is the art of body decorations, consisting of lines and patterns that convey such admirable qualities as the strength, fertility, humility and compassion of the individuals they adorn. He states that using Uli motifs enables him to remind everyone that these inner qualities are what we must seek to cultivate. This combining of the best of the "old" and the "new", come together make his work a unique and exhilarating experience.

Upjohn’s work has received much recognition and acclaim in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The president of Nigeria and numerous private collectors in England, Germany, America and Africa have collected his work.

www.upjohnart.com

Paul Branton

Paul Branton was born in 1973 in Chicago. He was influenced at an early age by the sights & sounds of the south side’s urban environment. Writing short stories & putting on plays with his sister quickly became a passion and a means of expressing himself. It was this passion that guided his education, which ultimately guided his career.

Choosing visual art as his main focus, he entered Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, majoring in Commercial Art with a strong emphasis in painting. It was at Millikin where he also discovered a love for poetry, a strong desire for painting, eventually putting on a one man art exhibit displaying his works. During these same years, he also helped his college buddy Skee Skinner with several student film projects, opening up another doorway from which to express himself. Not only taking on writing & production credits, Paul spent much of his time on both sides of the camera playing supporting and lead roles.

He recently combined the two art forms by creating a series of paintings for the feature film Pieces of a Dream, in which he also portrayed a main character. Also merging visual art and poetry, Paul put together the upcoming coffee table book To Dream In Colour.

The art of Paul Branton is/has been exhibited throughout Illinois, including Millikin University, South Side Community Art Center, Gallery Guichard, Oakshore Gallery and University of Illinois at Chicago. His work hangs in the homes of private owners from New York to Los Angeles.

Paul continues to explore different avenues of expressions, pushing his art in new directions. Throughout it all his main passion and devotion remains his three children in which he sculpts and molds them just like any other work of art.

Danny Broadway

Mixing rich, thin layers of light and dark acrylic pigments with broad, energetic brushstrokes and vibrant colors, artist Danny Broadway exudes his talents by creating pieces that speak to a viewer’s soul. As ancestral memories flood his mind and senses with the sounds, smells, sentiments, sensations, and actions of various eras, Broadway contemplatively depicts serene scenes that entice viewers to gaze often upon history in the present. Though Broadway has a quiet disposition, his art speaks volumes.

His creations span several media types reflecting an artist that is always in motion and striving to reach new heights with his talent. Even as a youngster, Broadway connected with his inherent calling as an artist and has heartfelt memories of creating art. From then until today, Broadway has constantly sought new ways to evolve as an artist. His focus and passion has been evidenced by his dedication to his craft since high school when a dedicated instructor, recognizing Broadway’s diligence and desire, took Broadway under her wing.

Broadway’s disciplined, yet freely expressed, creativity led him to a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Memphis. There, the University chose to commission his paintings as a major feature of the University’s Black History Month posters for two consecutive years.

Broadway’s dedication to the community is evinced in the numerous paintings and art workshop sessions he donates locally and nationally. Often utilizing his artistic talents to rally support for charitable organizations such as The Memphis Child Advocacy Center, The American Liver Foundation, SOCKS, The American Heart Association, The March of Dimes, Friends for Life, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Memphis. Broadway currently serves as Artist in Residence at St. Georges Independent School where he provides budding artists with the same inspiration he discovered through disciplined creativity. Broadway’s strong artistic sense and steadfast commitment to the community also led Silver Starr Art Studios LLC (SSAS) to select Broadway as an SSAS Visual Fine Art Division In-House Artist. SSAS, which is an arts and entertainment consulting and design firm that selects artists based on a stringent juried process, offers a wide array of services dedicated to empowering artists, furthering artists’ professional careers, assisting the growth of businesses and non-profits, and ensuring that the global community experiences invaluable fine arts and entertainment endeavors such as those shared by Broadway.

www.dannybroadway.com

Patricia Coleman-Cobb

Patricia Coleman-Cobb is the award-winning designer and creator of The Cobblestone Collection, a collection of handmade, sculpted, and soft sculptured figures. The collection also includes many other works of art including sculpted busts, framed art, and beautifully sculpted faces encased in exquisitely framed shadow boxes. Ms. Coleman-Cobb has personally hand crafted each and every detail of her collection. You won't help but be amazed at how soulful and expressive the characters in her artwork are. By simply looking at them, you will be able to imagine what they may be thinking, or feel their emotion.

The collection has received an enthusiastic response from the public. Serious collectors from across the globe have collected these one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces. The figures have won numerous prizes and awards over the years. Her work has also been featured in galleries, magazines, newspapers, books, traveling exhibits, and television.

Ms. Cobb has now added another title to her resume. She is the author of her first book, "Angels in the Mud". This talented artist takes you on a soulful voyage intertwining her life and her art with a common thread. "Angels In The Mud" is a wonderful conversation piece and it would be a lovely addition to your coffee table collection. This is a 148-page book with pictures of Ms. Cobb's characters and stories about her life that caresses the mind and soothes the spirit.

Ms. Cobb was born in Philadelphia, and is a graduate of Cheyney University. There she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Clothing and Textiles. Before evolving into a full time artist, she taught at The Art Institute of Philadelphia for twelve years. She is married to Larry G. Cobb, a local attorney, and they have three beautiful and intelligent sons.

www.patcobb.com

Ted T. Ellis

“I’m on a personal journey to pictorially document our life history through painting and share that experience with the world…that is my passion.”

Ellis grew up and was educated in New Orleans, a city known for its history, style, and artistic exuberance. This backdrop inspired Ellis to capture the essence of the subjects of his childhood in the glory of their rich cultural heritage. Extremely dedicated to his craft, this artist draws on a style that was born in his childhood from impressions of his native city. Ellis is self-taught and boldly blends realism and impressionism in his work, evoking nostalgia and inspiration. The art of this man both reveres and celebrates the traditional values of his culture. Ted Ellis, the man, lives the life he paints about.

He generously contributes time and artwork to various causes: United Way, ICLS, African American Visual Arts Association, Jack and Jill, Incorporated, United Negro College Fund, Heritage Christian Academy, and Public school districts around the globe. Ellis has received a Federal Grant to administer community based art-outreach program for "at-risk" and disadvantage youths in Houston, TX.

Ellis’ involvement in the community as an art advocate and educator has earned him recognition from numerous organizations and city officials. Ellis’ latest exhibit entitled, “Capturing Our Culture And Heritage” encompasses the diversity and cultural similarities of all Americans. This exhibit will travel across the country, visiting Chicago, New York, Mississippi, and New Orleans, in the next few months. Some of Ellis’ previous national exhibits include: “The Civil Rights Movement”, “Buffalo Soldiers”, and “Born In The Spirit”.

Ellis, who currently resides in Friendswood, Texas, has been recognized as one of the most celebrated artists of the 21st century. In a mere ten years, T. Ellis Art, Inc. has sold over 1,500,000 prints and posters nationwide. Ellis’ private collectors are many and scattered throughout the globe. Major corporations have commissioned Ellis; A few of which include: Walt Disney Studios, The Minute Maid Company, Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, and Avon, Incorporated.  He has also been featured on local and regional television programs, in magazines such as Upscale, Southern Living, and Newsweek, and is frequently featured in newspaper articles throughout the country.

www.tellisart.com

Gallery Guichard

Housed in the historic Supreme Life annex (founded in 1919), in Chicago, Illinois, is a three-story building in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood  that illuminates the block of 35th  and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.  The sand colored exterior, with large oblong windows providing glimpses of artwork inside, serves as a creative beacon in the city’s revitalized Black Metropolis.

Artist, Andre Guichard, helps to fuel this structure’s aura.  Started in 2005, Guichard features his work as well as 35 other artists of the African Diaspora. This gallery was designed by the owners. Gallery Guichard is artistically designed with a combination of high ceilings, track lighting and peek-a-boo insets that complement the original works of art in various mediums, sculptures, collages, blown glass, ceramics, metal sculptured lighting fixtures, and furniture.

Music resounds in the gallery and complements the majestic three-story space, as guests wander across the shiny mahogany wood floors, flat-screen TVs show crowded openings and collectors who inform guest of the value of collecting artwork of the African Diaspora. As you walk up to the 3rd floor   you can even see artwork on the ceiling. The gallery showcases new artist every six to eight weeks and always has a huge inventory of work that appeals to everyone.

The mission of Gallery Guichard is to continue to expose the art community to the art of the African Diaspora.  The Gallery strives to provide a portal to fine art and artists of different parts of the African Diaspora.  Gallery owners, Andre, and his wife, Frances Guichard, Stephen Mitchell and Stanley B. Stallworth are best described as a collaborative partnership of artists, collectors and art administrators who take ownership of the mission and who create a unique experience for everyone who visits the gallery. 

www.galleryguichard.com

Gerald Griffin

"I want to create paintings that convey a bit of mystery and adventure, but also the feelings of joy and hopefulness."

Born in the 1960’s on the northwest side of Chicago, Gerald showed an aptitude for art from an early age.  In high school, Gerald began taking figure drawing and oil painting classes which lead to a scholarship to The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. While attending the School of Art Institute Gerald would often spend hours visiting The Art Institute Museum studying the realism techniques of 18th century masters, like Rembrandt and Peter Paul Reubens. Many of these influences would later be shown in Gerald’s work.

Gerald primarily uses the techniques of fresco painting, an art form which originated during the early 18th century in Europe. The paint is applied to the canvas while the ground or gesso primer is still wet. The elements mix to produce a vibrant etherial nature to the colors, the artist can create complex, layered images.  Gerald loved the technique for the bold compositions and strong colors he was able to achieve. He began selling his paintings in art shows and exhibitions, eventually opening his own gallery in Chicago, which he ran successfully through the late 1990's.

In the early-two thousands, Gerald decided to move the business to the prestigious, River North gallery district in Chicago. Within a few years, the shop had done so well he decided to open a second shop in Hyde Park.  During this period, Gerald had several important experiences that would move him toward his vision as a painter. In an effort to broaden his artistic work, Gerald began painting in the cubism style, in addition to creating figurative bronze and stone sculptures. He also traveled for several months through Europe. Gerald was deeply moved by the richness of the cultures and landscapes he encountered, and while in Paris, having realized he needed a new style to convey his experiences, he bought a set of paints and began making impressionistic paintings in earnest. Gerald spent several years developing his style, drawing upon techniques he used in fresco painting, cubism and impressionism to create bold color fields and a depth of vision within his paintings, which he achieved by layering colors. His subjects were varied, but most came from his love of Black history and storytelling, which grew more and more expressive.

blackartinamerica.com/profile/GeraldGriffin

Clifton Henri

"Essentially, I am a storyteller… and the job of any great storyteller is to tell tales that not only convey emotion and imagination, but ignite them. My photography, which I affectionately describe as being Film Stills from a broader American Story, are themed in the spirit of nostalgia where stories of personal growth, social concerns and life struggles can be told. These images are meant to empower and inspire all those that witness them, which also happens to be the creative pulse behind my body of work."

"Influenced by imagery from the Civil Rights Movement and the Harlem Renaissance, the works of James VanDerZee, Gordon Parks, and Roy DeCarava have truly helped me discover and define my style. Their ability to capture emotion, intrigue the mind and tell a story is what inspires me and fuels my commitment to produce work that does the same."

Award-Winning Photographer, Clifton Henri (b. 1979) was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. He attended Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa where he received his BA in Communication and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), in Savanah, Georgia where he received his MFA in Graphic Design. Currently a freelance Art Director and Photographer, Clifton has self-published 10 calendars featuring his talents as a photographer, designer and writer. Clifton has worked with clients such as Disney, McDonalds, Dow Chemical, The Chicago Sun-Times... and is currently touring the country.

 

www.cliftonhenri.com

Dayo Laoye

"My work in recent years has focused primarily on the African presence in the Americas; the continued tradition or African cultural influence in the new world. Specifically, celebrating the Yoruba culture in the new world is my goal. Although, I was academically trained, my work now is stylized. I’m inspired and influenced by the styles of African artists, such as Yoruba carvers, clothe weavers/dyers, potters, and griots. Celebrating our music, dance, motherhood, politics, and spirituality is my main objective."

Adedayo was born to the royal family of Oba Adetoyese Laoye, The Timi of Ede. This famous Yoruba King toured throughout Europe in the 1960’s with the traditional Yoruba talking drum and instilled in Dayo a strong belief and conviction for this culture and traditional values.With the support of his parents, Dayo was able to spend his childhood pursuing his strong interest in art and drawing. He has this memory of his youth in Nigeria, and I can remember vividly drawing things that I saw on T.V. such as the Flintstones, Cowboys and Indians on horseback, and of course soldiers in their uniforms. While my friends in the neighborhood rode bicycles or played ball, I was always sitting in a corner drawing. Although this made me a “good boy” to my parents, it affected my sports and leisure life and how I related with my other young friends.

Dayo later worked on portraiture using as subjects his fellow students, teachers, and special guest to the school. A graduate of School of Fine Art, Yaba College of Technology, he worked for the Nigerian Television Authority, various advertising agencies as a graphic artist and two national newspaper as a political cartoonist. In 1988 while studying at Howard University, Washington, D.C., he became acquainted with contemporary African-American art and its search for a link with the past. It was during this time that Dayo began to explore the very meaning of the tradition in which he was born. Much of Dayo’s work, therefore reflects his Yoruba tradition.

He is currently working on a series of paintings – The People’s Choice – inspired by the political process going on in America today. Also, he is working on a series of paintings – Negritude – celebrating the diversity of beauty in the African-American culture.

Dayo has been exhibiting for the last 25 years. He has a studio on Chicago’s south side.

www.dayolaoye.com

Joyce Lomax

"It is a privilege for me to create and share with you similar experiences; for me, art is about the ability to express feelings through the chosen medium hopefully someone gets it... I will continue to explore!"

Love of art came early to Joyce Lomax who spent her childhood in Akron Ohio. As a child, Joyce found herself drawing and painting and always exploring her creative expression. The money was not there to support Joyce's formal training in art so she did what many of her forefathers did; she self-taught!

Joyce explored many mediums before she embraced her pressed copper paintings and ceramic work.  Her art is very earthy with a primitive flare depicting characters and experiences in her African American environment. Some of her depictions are lighthearted with a bit of humor.

A love of color, stories and expressing herself in mixed media is an accurate summary of Joyce's work.  She and or her art can be found at many cultural events in and outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

Joyce has won several awards: Afr' Am Show in Norfork, Virginia-2004 and South Dekalb Heritage Festival Palette Award 2003.

blackartinamerica.com/profile/joyceLomax

George Nock

"It is my life's inspiration to create artwork which reflects moods and moments in life that will stimulate and intrigue it's viewers. Through various mediums, I attempt to convey images of Americana, wildlife and fantasy, while aspiring to be one of the worlds greatest artists - My visual images are a way of sharing what I see, feel and imagine with viewers. I want to always create what I feel."

George Nock, former running back with the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins, was inspired early in life to become an artist Nock's journey into the world of art began at the age of three and a half when he impressed the nuns at his nursery school with his exceptional drawings - Nock created his first sculpture, a horse, after being introduced to clay in the second grade. Inspired, he began sculpting animals on a regular basis and at age nine, sold his first sculpture, a family of lions, for $15.

Nock attended Morgan State College and received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and earned all-american honors in football. In 1969, Nock was drafted by the Mew York Jets where he played for three years before playing out of his option to become a free agent and chose the Washington Redskins in 1972. After suffering an injury, he retired from professional football and continued making a living in the social service fields. Participating in an art show changed his focus, since that time he has paid attention to his first love - art.

The creator bestowed Nock with a natural gift for art and infused him with the ability to create his own images that portray strength, sensitivity and uncanny insight Being able to create his own images of nature and life is what inspired Nock as a child and inspires him still. Prolific in the mediums of pen and ink, watercolor and gouache, Nock likes sculpting best His uniquely inspired creations go far beyond the surface in depicting life's experiences from a Black man's point of view. Nock's images are so strong they cannot be ignored. They reach out and engulf the viewer to become a part of the creation.

Nock's work has been shown in galleries and exhibits throughout the U.S. and is included in the collections of Ethel Kennedy, Vanessa Williams, Evander Holyfield, Nancy Wilson, Joe Namath, Venus Williams and Dawn Staley to name a few. Nock has received many citations and awards including "Best in Show and "Best in Sculpture and Drawing at many juried art shows. He has been featured in newspaper and magazine articles, and has made countless appearances on radio and television shows.

www.justlookin.com/bios/gNock.htm