I’ve become interested in how contemporary (modern-day) artists portray people of different ethnicities, races, and cultural backgrounds, especially when they come from that background or identity themselves. My goal is to select artists with a variety of work available to view online, and whose work is mostly appropriate to be viewed by all ages.

Also in this series:

Part 2: Photography

Part 3: Kanaka Maoli Artists

First up is a small selection of Black and African artists working in portraiture.

Adrian Brandon: Pen and watercolor

https://www.adrianbrandon.com/stolen

Arinze Stanley: Drawing

https://kottke.org/20/09/the-surreal-hyperrealism-of-arinze-stanley

Bisa Butler: Quilt

https://www.claireoliver.com/artists/bisa-butler/

https://kottke.org/20/08/bisa-butlers-colorful-quilted-portraits-of-black-americans

Delita Martin: Collage

https://blackboxpressstudio.com/

http://galeriemyrtis.net/delita-martin/

Andrea Pippins: Digital Designer

https://andreapippins.com/

Lorna Simpson: Mixed Media: Photography, Painting, Collage, Sculpture, and more

https://lsimpsonstudio.com/collages

https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/explore/who-is/who-lorna-simpson

Cyrus Kabiru: Sculpture and Photography

https://thekidshouldseethis.com/post/kenyan-artist-cyrus-kabiru-makes-eyeglasses-from-trash-e-waste

https://zeitzmocaa.museum/artists/cyrus-kabiru/

https://nataal.com/cyrus-kabiru

Vanessa Brantley Newton: Mixed Media

https://painted-words.com/portfolio/vanessa-brantley-newton/

Christian Robinson: Mixed Media Illustrator, Author, and Designer

https://www.theartoffun.com/

https://storiedproduction.com/story-and-pictures-by-film/#

Painters

Amy Sherald

http://www.amysherald.com/

Jessica Spence

https://www.jessicaspenceart.com/

Kehinde Wiley

https://kehindewiley.com/works

https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/kehinde_wiley_new_republic/

William Paul Thomas

http://www.williampaulthomas.com/portraits02