A robust and engaging read…
New York-based art historian, art collector, curator, and writer Charles Moore, focuses on color black while providing excellent advice for Black artists and collectors in his latest, a follow-up to his earlier much-admired guide to art collecting, The Black Market. A significant new voice in the art circle, Moore, asks important questions: what makes color Black brilliant? What constitutes the psyche of Black artists? What makes collectors pursue the passion of collecting art? Can art retell history? How can we properly classify art? Can we do so organizationally, by color, by time period, by continent or societal group? He leads readers through the best available evidence, covering everything from Black representation in literature to music, movies, and art and delivers insightful answers in intelligent prose. There is a steady stream of commentary on the importance of public art, family portraits, print collection, and sculptures, with Moore devoting long sections to a wide range of Black artists, including the trend setters (the disruptors such as Nina Chanel Abney, Laolu Senbanjo and the eclectics, including Victoria Rogers, Natassha Chambliss, who transformed the art scene completely in the United States) and the up-and-coming artists. Some pieces cover artistic explorations in the African American literature such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (fiction), For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange (poetry), and A Promised Land by Barack Obama (biography) while others delve into music industry such as the visual album (Kanye West’s film, Runaway). The result is an illuminating collection of anecdotes and acclamation about artists and collectors such as Theaster Gates, a multidisciplinary artist specializing in land development, sculpting, and performance; Black portrait artists Kerry James Marshall, Henry Taylor, and Amoako Boafo; Larry Ossei–Mensah, the self-taught discoverer of art; the noteworthy art collector Suzanne McFayden; and more. But this splendid collection of essays is more than a who’s who of famous Black artists. Shrewdly observant, Moore conveys in assured prose the Black artists’ influence in creating socio-political conversations through engaging their talents and harnessing the viewers’ understanding of the art world. At the same time, he also provides insights into the intricate and fascinating business of art ownership—from managing one’s assets to supporting the growth of Black art through sponsorship and involvement and more. A lively piece on Black art and collection, this fine book deserves a place on every art lover’s bookshelf.
The Brilliance of the Color Black Through the Eyes of Art Collectors
By Charles Moore (Author), Storm Ascher (Foreword)
Petite Ivy Press
Pub date September 8, 2021
ISBN 978-1955496230
Price $29.99 (USD) Hardcover, $7.83 Kindle edition
