5 Ways To Support Artists of Color
It’s Easier Than You Think To Uplift One Another In This Crucial Time
By Thea Fiore-Bloom, Ph.D.
The Black Lives Matter movement brings us once again to a threshold in history.
We now stand in front of a door that could lead us to needed transformation in all sectors of society — including the arts.
But that door to a more equitable future for artists of color isn’t truly open yet.
Because as African-American journalist Tania Inniss rightly notes, there’s still a dearth of Black and Brown artist’s presence in major auctions, museums, galleries, and art history curricula today.
But is there anything we do to help give that door to equality for artists of color a big old collective shove?
Inniss and other authors, artists, and activists I interviewed for this post, made me aware, it’s easier than I thought to take actions that will help.
So here are just five example actions (out of possibly five hundred) that we can take to do our part to uplift artists of color, thereby helping to better society as a whole at this crucial juncture. Ready?
5 Actions You Can Take To Support Artists of Color
1. Support Artists of Color on Social Media
Do you already follow many artists of color on social media?
“Keep up to date with their progress and [when COVID is over] go to their shows so you can ask them about their process and motivations,” writes Inniss.
“Something as simple as showing an interest in them [online now] can be the motivation an artist needs to keep pushing and breaking barriers.”
2. Be Colorbold, Not Colorblind
African-American CEO and former chairwoman of Dreamworks, Mellody Hobson tells us in her Ted Talk that if we want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, saying we’re color blind and leaving it at that won’t cut it.
We need to take the steps necessary to become color brave.
Artist, coach and Pass The Brush founder, Rachel Juanita Bellamy wisely applies Hobson’s call for courage to our world of the arts.
“Art is something that is within every person, in every culture, yet when we look at our art industry as it is today, it is 99% White. It’s not that people of color aren’t here, we are just being marginalized or ignored,” says Bellamy.
How can we correct this?
Bellamy suggests we make an effort to hire artists of color to work in our own art business.
“Can you make at least one of the ten teachers you are going to select for your next online summit to be a person of color?” asks Bellamy.
How about that illustrator who is going to animate your logo, or the next branding consultant, product designer, or the next guest blogger you take on, etc.?
Don’t know where to find artists of color to hire?
Jacinda Walker, chair of AIGA’s Diversity and Inclusion task force, suggests: “Try Jopwell, a platform dedicated to connecting companies with candidates from underrepresented groups. You can also list jobs on Organization of Black Designers, Blavity, Hispanic-Jobs.com, or Remezcla.“
3. Celebrate and Explore New Artists of Color in Your Pins
You may be familiar with the work of Betye Saar or her daughters Lesley and Alison. But have you seen the mindblowing quilts of textile artist Bisa Butler?
Or have you laid eyes on the installations of Renée Stout or Whitfield Lovell? What about the assemblage work in the Smithsonian of James Hampton?
Maybe you’ve experienced the work of Sam Gilliam, Lorna Simpson, or Alma Thomas?
Why not explore artists of color on Pinterest and create boards devoted to them to share with others?
There is so much we all have not seen.
Check out Maile Castaneda’s jaw-dropping Pinterest board of some of Cuba’s finest painters.
Find new inspiring artists on Black Art in America, or check out 10 Exemplary Women Artists in India You Need to Know About.
Look at the modern work of up and coming Pacific Islander Artists here, contemporary Native American art here, or contemporary Chinese women artists over here.
Or maybe pop on over to my Pinterest board of the stellar work of African- American painter Tamara Natalie Madden (see “Black Queen” above.)
Let me know what Pinterest boards you start or already have that want me to have a peek at. 🙂
4. Buy Art Made By Artists of Color
“Another great way to get involved is to buy Black art,” writes Inniss.
“I know that it can be a little daunting,” writes Inniss. “Not everyone can drop money on art like Diddy or Jay-Z, but you can start small by buying a print for as little as $10 or save up to buy something moderately more expensive.”
5. Let Museums Know You’re Watching
Almost all of the above action steps are fairly easy for introverted artists like us to do, but author and museum program manager, Brittany Thurman tasks us with one that takes some more moxie — if you’re up for it.
“One thing that’s needed (and is happening a little more) is for museums to be called out, ” said Thurman. “People can write to museum directors and curators, either via snail mail, or a more public format (like an online review.)”
“Ask museums which Black artists have had solo exhibitions in their museums? Or when was the last exhibition that featured a Black artist? When will the next one be held?” said Thurman.
“Understand that as an individual letter writer you may be ignored (I’ve seen it!) But one thing that can’t be ignored are these things happening en masse,” said Thurman.
“You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop.” — Rumi
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This was a wonderful article. Thank you for encouraging others to follow black artists! Sheila J Hall
Thank you for your kind words, good luck with your wonderful work.
This was wonderful and a lot of great information as always. I read a great article in the New York Times about African-American artists and photographers and their Instagram accounts. I checked them out and started following, something I never would’ve done if I wasn’t directed to these talented artists.
Thanks Denise! Send me the link to the piece if you have a minute. That is cool that you did that. 🙂
Thanks for this post.
Such great ideas, Thea. There’s always something we can do and find ways to give support. These are amazing artists. And it’s amazing how when we uplift others, we all benefit. Just by exploring these artists and getting familiar with their work, I’m feeling my own itch to get out my art supplies (I call them my ‘keys to another world’. Strange, I know lol). Like you said in the podcast, my art is always there for me. Such empowering words in just 11 minutes. How do you do it?
Thank you.
This comment makes my day and my week. To know that my work inspired you to want to get out your art supplies, makes my heart smile. I don’t think it’s strange at all that you call your art supplies “keys to another world” because they are keys to another world. Supposedly Einstein said: “Art is standing with one hand extended into the universe and one hand extended into the world and letting ourselves be a conduit for passing energy.” Isn’t it cool we get to do that by just buying some damn stuff from Blick, lol. Now I won’t feel bad buying art supplies because of you, I will go to the checkout humming and thinking “these are keys to another world.” Well worth the nominal fee for a ticket to another universe right? And yes I agree there is always so much we can do to support others. Thanks for reaching out and supporting my work today Alicia-Joy.
Thoughtful, timely and evocative as always Thea.
It made me wonder about Canada’s museums. I live near the capitol and I know that our National Gallery has always supported indigenous arts (https://www.gallery.ca/whats-on/exhibitions-and-galleries/canadian-and-indigenous-art) and the Canadian Museum of History (https://www.historymuseum.ca/) does the same in a really big way. They have the largest collection of totem poles in the grand hall… truly stunning.
Canadian Art magazine (https://canadianart.ca/) has always championed people of colour, indigenous or not, but have redoubled their efforts in todays climate. A recent article explores “A Crisis of Whiteness in Canada’s Art Museums”. (https://canadianart.ca/features/a-crisis-of-whiteness/)
So at least it seems the issue is being looked at on our side of the border. That’s a hopeful sign.
As for me? I have a cherished watercolour of my childhood home that my Mom commissioned from a lovely artist I worked with back in the early 80’s. I wish I had stayed in touch with him.
For some weird reason we get our PBS station from Detroit, but they have a program called Detroit Performs, which showcases local artists. I recently fell head over heels for the work of Virgil Taylor who creates wearable art. I was so bummed when I saw that his Etsy shop is on break (https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheAncientCraftLLC), but you can see his work in this short video: https://youtu.be/l42oP16CP1s
Thanks to PBS I have enjoyed the work of all sorts of talented artists I would never have discovered on my own. Three cheers for PBS!
Wow, what a comprehensive and great response Laura. Thanks so much. I have never seen the work of Virgil Taylor, just inspiring! I love how he incorporates ancient engineering systems/architectural details from the ancient Persia and South America into his pieces, how cool is that? I also see he uses this material Charmed Studio subscriber/jeweler Barbara Klar clued me into that has been salvaged from abandoned Detroit car factories now called Detroit Agate. Klar says on her website “Fordite is a man-made “stone” now being called Fordite or Detroit Agate. “Kind of MOD, kind of POP-Art, It is fabricated and cast in sterling silver and features “Motor City Agate”, or “Fordite”. Since the car factories have been closed in Detroit, people have chipped away at the spray booths covered in layers of car paint to create these unique “stones”. –check her rings out here, really striking.https://barbaraklar.com/collections/fordite
Wonderful post, Thea! I’ve been working on the first suggestion but then wondered where to go from there so this is so helpful and timely.
Thanks so much Ginger, kind of you to write in and tell me. BTW I love your ABOUT essay, I am doing a post on that next and yours ticks the boxes. They are so hard to write and you made it look effortless. Be well, Thea.
OH my gosh this is amazing!!! What a beautiful collection of resources also. This has been long over do and thank you for talking to such amazing women! Its so inspiring. So many easy things to connect us all. Thank you Thea!!!
You are so welcome Gale, there are “so many things to connect us all”, well said. Thanks as always for taking the time to comment.
Right now, artist Sarah Cooper is not only reminding me how healing laughter is, she speaks truth to power in her videos. (And yes, I consider comedians and writers creatives, too!) I just bought her book, and just the TITLE makes me laugh! 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings
Absolutely! Great example, lol. Her acting out Trump’s sound bites is riot! I couldn’t believe they included a clip from her at the Democratic National Convention, awesome. And yes, of course comedians and actors are certainly creatives, as creative as visual artists. Thanks Luann. 🙂
Excellent article,Thea! The photo of the door in the tree is perfect, inviting us into a different realm. I think it also depends on where you live on how artists of color are represented. We have a huge diverse artist community in Houston. The idea of creating pins or boards on Pinterest appeals to me. What a great way to support artists! I follow many artists of color.The problem is that only a few of them are visible on instagram and even less on mainstream face book. There are several groups on FB catering to Black or other minority artists but they are not inclusive. Since the groups are private, their work does not come up on my feed.
Some of the artists I follow are Mary Chang, Alexandria Reed (Tokyo Moon), Antonia Orlando, Deborah Quintana, Katrina Gorman, Alberto Gutierrez la Madrid, Gene Barron, Ivy Rajkumar, Leonardo Benzant, Oscar Quadros and Xueping Zhang.
Ooh thanks so much Sylvia for your wonderful feedback and info. Will be googling my tail off today , the only person on your list I follow is Mary Chang and that was because of you initially.