About: I am a ceramic sculptural artist. I use African history to bring visual images to my art. I also have studied other cultures history to complete my art form. Using the human form is my key to these replications. At times I want movement to my art, I use dancers bodies, to show the strength and integrity of the people I may just use the torso and head.
With African features there are so many ways to show them. They are so expressive and those of African descent I hope can relate to the clay sculptures by seeing themselves or others in them. The hair is always combed in ways to show the texture of it, the lips and nose are full and very sensual. The skin coloring rich with the colors of the earth.
Linktree:
More info: In a virtual show my sculptures are show as flat pictures 2D images verses 3D in the round. So the pictures are for sale which make beautiful wall hangings which go with any décor or mood of a space.
About: Deatra is an artist working at NIAD Art Center who likes to work with pencils, paper, paints, silkscreen, lino-cut print, ceramics and fiber.
“I am thinking about my work when I am doing my work. I’ve been coming to NIAD for a long time and I’m going down in history with NIAD. I like to cook, read and I like fashion.”
About: Greetings! My name is Olubori Babaoye and I am a Nigerian-American multifaceted artist from Oakland, CA. Throughout my elementary years, I drew on the playground with chalk during recess and even sketched on my homework assignments. That was when I was introduced to the Oakland School for the Arts where I studied Visual Arts. My time there allowed my creativity to manifest into something remarkable. As a Nigerian-American artist, I feel that it’s my responsibility to commentate on the various socio-economic and political conundrums taking place today in both America and Nigeria. Being that I was raised in a Nigerian household, it’s inevitable that I’ve established such a powerful connection with my homeland. I’ve continuously strived to perfect my craft not only as a classical painter, but also a digital illustrator, Sip & Paint instructor, as well as a live performer/painter. I’ve come to realize the true power that I have as a creative to heal and inspire those around me. On that note, one of my major goals as an artist and active member of my community is to one day establish my own youth center that gives children throughout the Bay Area the resources to blossom creatively. Also being a Graphic Design major, I want to utilize my degree to not only land a steady paying job, but to also use my talents as a tool to establish my own lifestyle brand. Eventually, I hope to get to the point where I can travel, dive into other fields of art, collaborate with other artists and touch the world through my work.
Name: Jason Byrd Age: 29 Origins: Philadelphia, PA Presently: Oakland, CA Occupation: Teacher
Jason Byrd’s process is an ongoing investigation of the human condition, What are we? From where do we come? Where are we going? He explores themes such as the black family, systemic racism, toxic masculinity, the education gap, consumerism, and capitalism. Byrd tends to work in series. Using a variety of mediums and visual styles he doesn’t ascribe to a singular mode of expression. Constantly drawing from the world around him, many of his works and series incorporate the idea of repurposing and realizing multiple interpretations, or perspectives, in of every inch of life.
Byrd graduated in 2014 from Trinity College with a BA in studio art.
“What am I to do when every neighborhood is an obstacle…when two buls making it out had never sounded logical…three buls making it out? That’s mission impossible.” -BlackBoyFly, Kendrick Lamar
Inspired by WH Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Kendrick Lamar, and Kobe, I set out to create paintings that celebrated movement, sport, color, and the black body.
Humbubblegum (Baseball)
Joga Bonito (Soccer)
Be The Light (basketball)
16″x 20″
Acrylic and Spray paint on Canvas $395 (each) W/0 Shipping or Framing
To Contact Artist: Jason.bird215@gmail.com or Instagram: @Jasonbewhy
About: Dre’an is an artist at NIAD Center. He works with woodcarving and drawing. He mostly speaks his mind. Dre’an makes what he sees happening like corruption in society or anything wrong nowadays. He focuses on events globally not just in America. Dre’an is also inspired by television, specifically: the original Teen Titans, My Hero Academia and WWE.
About: Summary: Acrylic Paint, Watercolor Pencils, Tissue Paper, Craft Paper, Crayons and Colored Pencils on Canvas, T-shirts, Glass, Paper and some Suns have been created in Ceramics
This is my inspired Art, they are creations of God’s Suns.
They were created from recurring dreams that I started having in 1994 and for me as they were being created there was a presence of Kindness, Smiles of Joy, Happiness, Peace of Love and many more words to express them. No two are alike and the face of the Suns have a meaning behind each one and a name. Some of the names that have been created were, Sun of “Now is the Time”, Sun of “You Can” and Sun of “Happiness”. The Lips on the Suns is a heart shape highlight of Love!
My work has been displayed and sold at The Caldwell and Community Galleries, Fine Arts Galleria – Carry the Light and Three Books are located at the Sketchbook Projects Brooklyn Art Library.
The sun is the entertainer in the sky it makes us feel better, people look for the Sun to come out and the Sun represents a New Day, Encouragement and it gives you Hope! Among the Moon and Stars the Sun is the one who has the most characters, personalities and many faces. No matter what you are doing in this life, the Sun is involved and it embraces your life with all the energy that you have and gives you more than you expect.
One of the comments from a Customer that purchased the Suns said to me, “There is nothing more Refreshing and Cheerful to wake up and see that Sun smiling at you!”
Online Store: www.doitshaemcb.com or email me: doitsha@gmail.com “Send me a word that brings you Hope and I will create a Sun based on it!”
About: My canvas is Life, so that could be anything from cotton, wood, tile or leather to name a few. I use acrylics as my medium and find myself adding different textures such as rocks, metal and anything that allows my imagination to flow. I do custom pieces based on your wish and my vision. You will also find my art on my greeting card line and my bold beautiful earrings.
I was born in a Oakland California. I found a love for Art at a very young age. While attending college at CSULB, I found my voice. That voice was expressed through painting, poetry and singing. Once I moved back to Oakland I continue to express my love of art and had the pleasure of performing my words all over the Bay.
Throughout this love of art in transition, I always had a sketch pad full of imagination. I have been vending and selling my art for over five years. Three years ago I was challenged by some artist I idolize to step out of my comfort zone and I did. I have shown art over a dozen places and sold quite a few pieces. I have even started my own greeting card line.
I am at the beginning of my life in art with many more accolades to come. My vision is to show everyone what they need when they need it through my art. While I am letting every woman know, They are Perfectly Flawed!
More info: Online Store: www.personallypaintedbythasun.com
Notes: Please contact me the following ways. WebSite: www.personallypaintedbythasun.com Email: thasunsaysso@gmail.com Instagram @ppbthasun Facebook: Personally Painted By ThaSun
Images: Tribute to 2020
Flowers, tribute to AfroPunk, 2020, Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 36”, $3750
Inner Beauty, 2020, Acrylic on Canvas, 36” x 12”, $1100.
Today I’m Broken: A Self Portrait/ The Spirit of 2020, Acrylic on Paper, 29×21
About: I realized at a very young age that I had the innate ability to capture visual images through artistic expression. Eventually my parents took notice of my gift and encouraged me to further develop my gift as an artist. My very first technical artistic instruction came in the form of a Christmas gift presented to me by my parents. It was a kit entitled, “Paint by Numbers,” that included oil paint. It was at this point that I fell deeply in love with oil painting, and this is the medium I have chosen to use to express my creative visions ever since. After high school and years of self taught technique, I decided to continue my studies at San Francisco City College and later Merritt College in Oakland where I currently reside.
Although my chosen medium is oil, I continue to experiment with many different styles and subject matters. Over the years, my body of work has expanded to include portrait, still life, landscape, figure, seascape and abstract. Throughout the years I have managed to raise a family and maintain a career in the secular world while nurturing my artistic development. My immense love and passion for art has led me to continue to create throughout all of my life’s challenges. My collection is a work in progress. I continue to experiment and explore different approaches to expressing myself through painting. Where there is life there is art and I hope you enjoy my collection as much as I have enjoyed being the instrument through which it is created.
About: Joseph Robinson was born in Oakland and grew up in the East Bay. Mr. Robinson grew up spending time in the dark room with his late father, who was an active professional jazz photographer in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr. Robinson participated in The Art of Living Black for more than a decade. He participated in the One Black Day, My Race My Grace exhibition at the Sargent Johnson Gallery in the summer of 2003. He was a finalist in the Alameda County Art Commission Wall Corridor 2005 project for the new Juvenile Hall. In addition, he was a finalist in the Alameda County Art Commission Rotational Works Collection for 2005. He was featured in an Art of Living Black satellite photography exhibit, SNAP!, at the Women’s Cancer Resource Center in 2006. His work was featured at the Nomad Café, Oakland, California in February 2007. His work was at the Joyce Gordon Gallery, Glimpses in Time exhibit August, 2007.
His work has also been shown in the BABA: Black Artists Expressions of Father exhibits: San Francisco, 2006, Atlanta 2007, and New York 2008. He participated in Open Studios Event at Mills College through The Art of Living Black in February 2011. He participated in “Fathers in the Park” event with the Oakland Housing Authority in June, 2011. In 2012 and 2013, he participated in numerous Pacific Fine Arts Festivals street fairs. This exposed him to a wider audience and gave him a vehicle to create and show more of his landscape and floral work. He participated in Pro Arts Open Studios in 2014 and 2015. He was in the “NATURE (re)DEFINED” a photography exhibit at the Gray Loft Gallery in 2015. He has been in the Art of the African Diaspora since 2020.
About: My journey as an artist began in 1977 when I was enlightened by my uncle Nolan on a unique wood carving technique that his older brother Donald learned in prison. My first efforts were exact duplicates of my uncles’ work. After a few pieces, I altered their designs to add my own touch. After a few more, my own voice and vision emerged. I started out using scrap lumber, but an early turning point was my first visit to Southern Lumber Company in San Jose, CA. I was spellbound and spent hours sifting through exotic woods from all over the world. The touch, textures, colors, smells and grain patterns were mesmerizing. I think I touched every piece of wood in the place, from ash to zebrawood and some of that wood touched me as well. It was mind boggling to consider that the piece of ebony I held might have come from a tree that witnessed the birth of slavery. The slice of oak may have come from a tree that provided shade for the Underground Railroad. Maybe some mother’s son was hung from the Tennessee Pine. It was clear to me that those trees had stories to tell and I was determined to translate!
