Inspired in part by the writings of Marcus Garvey, Kwame Brathwaite, his older brother, Elombe Brath, and the African Jazz Arts Society and Studios (AJASS) popularized the phrase “Black is Beautiful” in the late ’50s and early ’60s. Brathwaite and Brath did their part to spread this idea through Brathwaite’s writings and photographs, as well […]
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My name is Aurélia Durand; I am a visual artist. I was born and raised in France, in the suburb of Paris. In 2014 I got my master in industrial design from the art school ESAD d’Orléans in France. During my studies, in 2013 I went to Copenhagen at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design […]
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There are so many works of art and writings that I am inspired by and committed to sharing here on NBD and Pierre Bennu is one of them. This work entitled THE SERIES ‘1987’ has evoked in me something new or rather old! These pieces and the writings that go along with them bring up the […]
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Below the surface of Shantell Martin’s signature black and white drawings is an artists’ inquiry into the role of artist and viewer, where a work of art is more than an object of admiration disconnected from its inception. With a meditative process defined by an uninhibited flow, her compositions embody her internal state and the […]
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Considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems has investigated family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power. Determined as ever to enter the picture—both literally and metaphorically—Weems has sustained an on-going dialogue within contemporary discourse for over thirty years. During this time, Carrie Mae Weems […]
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The first major 21st-century museum retrospective on this famed mid-century artist, Charles White: A Retrospective traces White’s career and impact in the cities he called home: Chicago, his birthplace; New York, where he joined social causes and gained acclaim; and Los Angeles, where he developed his mature art and became a civil rights activist. The exhibition includes […]
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When you think about world changers you might think about someone that is a house hold name. Contrary to this idea there are a plethora of World Changers doing what they love, where they are and making impact in ways that subtly move mountains within the heart! Belinda Becker is one of those people. Music […]
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Simone Leigh makes mixed media-sculptures and installations, as well as videos, through which she foregrounds the beauty and complexity of blackness. Claiming to “continue to revel” in her own identity as an African-American woman, she unflinchingly explores how black bodies have been discussed and displayed throughout history. Clay, in the form of terra cotta and […]
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Get down with such legends as Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind & Fire, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer, the Jackson Five, Diana Ross, James Brown, and Chaka Khan in this collection of largely unseen images from the golden age of soul, R&B, and funk. This XL volume gathers all of the glamour and groove captured by photographer Bruce W. Talamon. Bruce W. Talamon saw it all during the golden age of […]
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Lorraine Hansberry was born on May 19, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois. Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun was the first drama by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway. Widely acclaimed, it helped pave the way for other black playwrights. She completed only two plays in her short life but left unfinished […]
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Adeyemi Michael is a Grierson and Al Jezeera New Horizon award-winning filmmaker/artist. An MA Directing graduate from the NFTS; made a Broadcast Hotshot in 2014, his breakout film Sodiq gained several accolades including premiering at Sheffield Doc Fest along with nominations from the IDA (US) to RTS (UK) awards (read more) Adeyemi Michael’s film “ENTITLED” […]
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Ok, so I am immensely inspired to write a little bit about Mustafa Shakir. He has been on my radar to share his light with you, the readers of Nevah Black Down for some time. I’ve personally known him because of the whole spoken word scene in NYC over the years. I’ve always thought he […]
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Creative Visionary Erin Robinson is a Fashion Designer by trade but also a trained fine artist from Parsons School of Design and the Corcoran School of Art. Her daydreamy, magical imagination is inspired by travel, color, texture, the feminine shape and the many shades and coifs of Brooklyn. She works in a variety of mediums […]
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It was a Saturday afternoon when I walked into the sacred space of RA MA East located in the West Adams area of Los Angeles. I was there to meet and do a piece on Kimberly Durdin, who is a Los Angeles based IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), Doula, Childbirth Educator and Student Midwife. […]
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Every now and again you come across a photographer that makes you want to be in front of his or her camera, Joshua is one of those artists. I met him some years ago and I have had the pleasure of working with him. His kind and gentle nature make him a person you want […]
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Black Girl, they say you ain’t ‘posed to be here Much of what twenty-first-century culture tells black girls they are not pretty: Don’t wear this; don’t smile at that. Don’t have an opinion; don’t dream big. And most of all, don’t love yourself. In response to such destructive ideas, internationally recognized poet Mahogany Browne challenges […]
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“I am a Choreo-Photolist – where theatricality, choreography and photography meet in a single or series of images In the 1970’s, I stumbled across the films, music, and voices which spoke to me in pictures. For me art was a means to set up hyper-realities, conversations, and to curate my curiosities. I’ve been inspired […]
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WE HERE AT NEVAHBLACKDOWN ARE EXCITED AND HONORED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU! THIS CONVERSATION IS UBER IMPORTANT AND WORTH SHARING! With over a million views (on Nikki’s TEDTalk) and growing, we can see how important this topic is. –Nevahblackdown Why you should listen Nikki Webber Allen is a two-time Emmy winner with 20 […]
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What can I say about this most amazing artist? He is at the forefront of music and film. His accomplishments speak for themselves. I have followed his work for some time and I have to say I have always been drawn to his pages (social media etc) both for the sounds of his music and […]
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ABOUT Singer/Songwriter Keishera James exudes originality. With her raspy alto pipes, Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Keishera has always been fond of reggae and Soul music. She recalled attending stage shows as a child seeing her favorite artist rocking the stage and being mesmerized—wondering if she could ever be that brave. […]
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