How 11 Creators of Color Are Raising Their Voices Through Art

In light of the current social justice movement taking charge around the world, many of us are struggling with concrete ways we can take action. In addition to the very important actions of donating, signing petitions, and educating ourselves, another very easy (and also important) step we can all take is to diversify our social media feeds. Following more Black-owned social media accounts—particularly those of artists—allows us to hear from different voices within the movement while also appreciating the power of art. 

Dr. Kirstin Ringelberg, PhD, Professor of Art History at Elon University, tells The Edge that supporting and promoting Black artists is important to do constantly—not just during this time. “Black artists have been some of the more significant, revelatory, and original artists in our history, so to not promote them is to practice erasure,” she says. “Black artists are central—to art history, the art world, and our understanding of this country—and they should always be promoted and supported.”

While Black artists have contributed significantly to contemporary art, Dr. Ringelberg notes that they’re largely underrepresented in the art world. A 2019 study published by the Public Library of Science supports her point: 85% of the artists featured in 18 major U.S. museums are white. “Despite the quality of their work, simply by being Black artists, they have the possibility of disappearing from our view,” Dr. Ringelberg says. “We have to fight against that.”

Dr. Ringelberg explains that throughout history, Black artists have been starting conversations that many of us are only beginning to participate in. “So many of the things we’re fighting for right now—justice, anti-racism, defunding carceral systems, including Black history and achievements in U.S. history, readdressing the erasure of racism from our knowledge of U.S. history, and so on—were already part and parcel of the work of many Black artists,” she says. “They’ve been talking to us all along, if we would only listen.” And now—when so many of us are, finally, listening—we should take steps to ensure Black artists get the support and recognition they’ve long deserved.

Dr. Ringelberg adds that it isn’t just more widely recognizable artists who deserve your attention. Street artists, muralists, those crafting protest posters, those turning to social media to express themselves through art—all of these people are just as worthy. “I hope we can recognize them, too—even if we never learn their names, they are doing important work to make us a better country where Black humans are seen, and seen as fully human, deserving of love and justice and equity,” she says.

1. Brionya James @godtaughtartist

Originally from Houston, TX but now residing in Venice, Italy, James is a conceptual painter. Her work focuses on Black experiences, by emulating Black “divinity, love, reality and appreciation.” In response to the current social injustices facing the Black community, James channeled her anger into art by creating a heart-wrenching painting of two young children, blindfolded and holding a sign saying “Pls help! Cant find r way home.” 

2. Watson Mere @artofmere_

Mere is a Haitian American visual artist based in New York City. One of his most well known pieces is “My Brother’s Keeper,” depicting Martin Luther King Jr. holding his hand in front of Donald Trump’s mouth, silencing him. Mere’s latest work and post, “Hijacked Movement (Agent Provocateur),” is in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and highlights the fine line between truly supporting the movement and surface-level support.

3. DéVonté Giovanni Rhea @vondon_art

Figurative painter VonDon from New Orleans aims to share with the world his “vision of an abstract mind.” Vondon’s methods of creation have been unorthodox, including his Instagram posts that feature the behind the scenes of his work utilizing Q-tips. His latest piece and reaction to the fight for social justice shows Malcom X painted with Q-tips in front of a decolorized American flag.

4. Chuck Styles @chuckstyless

Know that we have been through many things and have overcome. From POWERLESS to EMPOWERED. ✊🏾 "PICK" by @chuckstyless #chuckstyles

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Styles is a multi-disciplinary visual artist in Philadelphia who works to represent the “vibe” of the Black community. His piece entitled “PICK” includes allusions to cotton, peace, and Black power.

5. Danielle Coke @ohhappydani

performance won't end racism. change your heart. change your home. change humanity.

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A digital artist and activist based in Atlanta, Coke makes digital prints and social activist illustrations via her Instagram account. Coke wants to “inspire justice” and has various graphics detailing “thoughts that your minority friend might have” or “areas to diversify in daily life.” In one of her latest posts, Coke encourages various forms of change in response to systemic racism, by changing your “heart...home...humanity.”  

6. Láolú Senbanjo @laolunyc

Senbanjo is a performance and visual artist and activist residing in Brooklyn. After a few years as a human rights lawyer in Nigeria, Senbanjo came to New York City to pursue his career in the arts. Through his work, Sebanjo hopes to “help others reveal their truth.” In his latest piece which he shared via Instagram, Sebanjo challenges the audience to not “pretend like everything is okay” and questions what it would feel like for people to “not be at war with [the] idea of [him].”

7. Sasha Martoni @donttouchmy_hair

An artist and model in Atlanta, Martoni focuses primarily on Black women in her work. Martoni has posted multiple photos of new pieces on her Instagram account, in response to the current racial injustice movement. In one of her posts Martoni wrote that she “speaks through [her] art...for [her] that's better than words.”

8. Kevin Williams @artbywak

Williams is “an artist on a mission” to increase the Black narrative in fine art. Currently based out of Atlanta, Williams creates art that “honors [the African-American] rich heritage and hope filled destiny.” Williams posted his painting “No Justice..No Peace” on Instagram, captioning the post with a quote from Malcolm X.

9. Anthony B. Geathers @anthonybgeathers

Whaddup yall! Sports and politics have been hand in hand since Jack Johnson was heavyweight champion and dealing with racism. Every decade up until now, black athletes were very vocal about this country's problem with white supremacy, From the great Muhammed Ali to Jim Brown to Kareem Abdul Jabbar and other great black athletes. Unapologetic to the core and very political, the black athletes were apart of alot of movements as spokesmen for our people in terms of black nationalism and liberation. You wouldve seen Ali with Malcolm X talk about things knowledge of self and having love for your people and doing for self or Jim Brown giving back to black communities. Nowadays, that is not the case. Lets keep it real funky. Alot of black athletes aren't of that same cloth due to promoters putting the muzzle and fear on these athletes, some put their money over their own people, and some really dont give a damn unless its time to get paid from black folks attending their events. During and before these times I've witnessed black athletes like my man pictured here, UFC welterweight @touchngo_ always representing for black people and speaking out on issues our people face on the regular. To see guys like him, @angieoverkill, @davidbranch32 , Clareesa Shields and a FEW other young and older black athletes speak out and be with the people ,do for and inspire their own people and not be on no sucka shit and be quiet. I know we don't expect athletes and entertainers to say anything and be with the people on life and death issues like police brutality because alot of them dont live amongst the people anymore, but just know that there are people like Randy who aren't afraid to be in lockstep with the same people they grew up and lived with. More than ever for our generation, we gotta take up this fight against systematic racism in this country and world and just like many of our great ancestors and leaders have done, we have to do the same, get organized and force change so the next generation aint got to experience this sickness no more. Its good to see who I consider a great friend out here represent . 📸:@anthonybgeathers #monochrome #portraits #makeportraits #blackpeople

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A photographer in Brooklyn, Geathers is a former Marine who has since worked in sport, portrait, advertising, and photojournalism photography. Geathers has been posting original photographs from the current protests occurring in New York City. One of his latest posts features Randy Brown, UFC welterweight fighter, holding a sign and speaking with a policeman at a protest.

10. Reyna Noriega @reynanoriega_

A visual artist, author and educator, Noriega makes art in which women’s experiences in particular are represented and in which women can “feel empowered.” One of Noriega’s most recent posts is representative of her typical style, which she describes in the caption as adding “color, fun and freedom” to her art of Black women. The swipe-through post in the carousel, however, demonstrates her “reality” of racial injustice and encourages her audience to “confront this issue head on.”

11. Mark Clennon @mark.c

Clennon is a photographer in New York City who has worked with major brands from Netflix to Oscar De La Renta. His latest work, however, has been photojournalism on the streets of New York, documenting the current protests. In the caption of one of his most recent posts, he describes having “never expected to have [his] own hand in the frame of [his] images,” but as he was being pushed by police he kept taking photographs of the scene.

The Edge condemns racial injustice. We invite you to submit opinion pieces, stories, educational resources you have tried and other pieces of information you think can help continue the much needed discussion for change and equality, to elonedge@gmail.com. We hope to create a space for collaboration and education and encourage you to help us do so.

Features, LifestyleAleeza Zinnracial injustice, artists, creative, Black artists