Important Artists in Black Art Painting

Since its conception, art in all of its various formsThe scenario for artists from and living in Africa is
has been created for the sole purpose of thedifferent though. Despite the struggles with racial
artist describing for the world his or her personaldiscrimination and inherent prejudice in the U.S.,
visions of a person, event, or place. As a resultAfrican artists are faced with even more difficult
visual works of art leave the viewer with anissues. Apartheid and censorship have long plagued
impression of an extreme emotion. Whether thatthis long suffering group of artists and painters.
feeling is joy or the deepest pits of despair, theWhile expressing their views of the political unrest
artist has done their job if something of theirand unfair treatment, African artists have been
reality shows through their work.Painters of allsubjected to severe punishment and censorship
races and ethnic backgrounds can surely relate tounheard of in the West. Thanks in part to the
the "starving artist" theory. But for black artistacademic world's growing interest in the work of
the struggle has been a little more intense. Notthe modern black artist, black art painting is
only in the U.S. as the children of freed slaves, butreceiving more attention and registering in the
unfortunately in their mother continent of Africa,minds of museum curators and art galleries alike.
Black American artists have faced discriminationMost of the credit belongs to the fortitude and
and censorship. Fortunately both sets of unique,artistic expression of the African artists
gifted artists are beginning to see some of thethemselves.
attention and praise they deserve. Black artFrom its humble beginning in rock painting to its
painting is finally being seen for the hugedepictions of slavery, apartheid, and injustice,
contribution to history and the art world that it is.black fine art is an expression of the feelings and
Both sides of the world have produced amazinglyemotions of a diverse, racially unified community
gifted artists. In the Western hemisphere thereof artists. The rest of the world now has the
are certain black men and women who paved theopportunity to see and experience this unique
way for the African American artists of today.form of painting.
Horace Pippin is one of those men. After an injuryMr. Moyo Ogundipe has a Bachelors of Arts
in WWI, Pippin discovered his underlying talent fordegree in Fine Art from the University of Ife,
rich, historical painting. While he avoided theIle-Ife, Nigeria and a Master of Fine Art degree in
unpleasantness of life for a black man in the U.S.Painting from The Hoffberger School of Painting,
during that time period, he did produce black artMaryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore, USA.
paintings that spoke volumes to the viewer.HisOne of Africa's most celebrated and renowned
work was displayed in the Museum of Modern Artcontemporary black American artists, Mr.
in 1938.A less known black artist that contributedOgundipe has exhibited extensively in Africa,
to the black art movement in the United States isEurope and the USA. His paintings have been
Walter Ellison. His most famous work is "Traindescribed as hypnotic, colorful and densely
Station" located in the Art Institute of Chicago.patterned.
That painting is an honest look at the difficultiesIn 1996, Mr. Ogundipe was awarded the
facing black families as they migrated north in thePollock-Krasner Fellowship. And in 2005 he was
hope of a better future than the south could orinvited to become a member of Africobra, an
would offer. These two exceptional black artistsorganization founded in the 1960s and whose
help give hope of recognition to the many giftedmembership comprises of distinguished
black artists that were to follow.African-American artists.