ART + DESIGN

Martha Rich

I have been a huge fan of Martha Rich's Illustrations since I was a design student. I was excited to here about her book of collections in "Freedom Wigs". Artist like Frida Kahlo and Anais Nin have published journals of their work for fans and the world to see and Martha has followed in their footsteps. Artist, designers, and anybody willing to add a little color to their coffee table book collection should definitely check this whimsical portfolio of illustrations. This book is priced at $22.00. For more info, check out her site at http://www.martharich.com

Chris Ofili

British artist Chris Ofili hardly looks the type to foment revolutions: A handsome, diminutive man, the 30-year-old looks African, but he was born in Manchester and has spent his entire art career in England -- except for six weeks in Africa, where he got the idea to use elephant dung as a substance in his art, for its sculptural qualities and metaphorical resonance.-Benjamin Ivry

As a black Briton of Nigerian descent, that first visit to Africa encouraged him to reconsider his own identity and to develop a highly personal aesthetic through which he examines issues of black culture, imagery and sexual stereotyping.
His work draws on a wide range of cultural references and popular material, from 1970s comics to contemporary black music and pornographic magazines, elements which he combines with humour, subversion and an innovative approach to the use of painting as a medium.

You can check out his art at the Studio Museum in Harlem.



The first-ever exhibition of comic art from Africa comes to The Studio Museum in Harlem

As a project, Africa Comics was developed by Africa e Mediterraneo in 2001. The organization had just completed a series of projects and publications centering on African contemporary art as a way of establishing cross-cultural communication between Italy and Africa. Comic art presented itself as an ideal medium by which to address the wide range of social and political issues facing Africa—including refugees, public health, political conflicts, poverty, oppression, tribal traditions, and religion—from the point of view of its citizens.

If you are in the New York area, be sure to stop by the Studio Museum in Harlem to check it out. How many African inspired comics do you see? For more info go to studio museum in Harlem