Time: Feb 25, 2021 02:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
https://canyonsonline.zoom.us/j/96250014638
The College of the Canyons Art Gallery is delighted to bring you The Amazing Black-Man and Other American Stories, a virtual presentation of recent works by artist Kumasi J. Barnett, highlighting
the artist’s ongoing exploration of race, class, gender, sexuality, politics and other
contemporary issues in the United States. I first encountered Barnett’s artwork on
social media a few years ago, but had not seen it in person until last summer at Lowell
Ryan Projects in Los Angeles. The pandemic was in full force, but art galleries had
started to reopen, and this was my first, careful venture out of my home -- in search
of inspiration and contemporary art for possible future exhibitions. Encountering
Barnett’s work was electric. And although I had seen some of his images previously,
seeing them again, in the context of the summer of 2020, just a few weeks after the
death of George Floyd at the hands of the police, was both devastating and galvanizing.
Barnett’s paintings -- powerful, poignant, humorous, and sincere -- are made from
actual comic books. A comic book collector himself, Barnett’s deep engagement with
both comic book culture and contemporary painting results in vibrant objects that
manage to embrace and critique both traditions simultaneously. Using paint and markers,
he alters the books covers, concisely changing the familiar narratives into incisive
commentary on contemporary culture. Beloved superheroes like The Hulk and The Amazing Spider-Man are transformed into The Media’s Thug and The Amazing Black-Man! Spider-man’s iconic blue and red suit is painted out and replaced with an equally
iconic gray hoodie. These superheroes battle with present-day evils such as systemic
racism, police brutality, and political corruption.
We’re thrilled to be able to share Kumasi J. Barnett: The Amazing Black-Man and Other American Stories with our community, here in a virtual format. We are grateful to the artist, Kumasi
J. Barnett, and to Lowell Ryan Projects for generously providing these images and
making this presentation possible. I also want to thank The Multicultural Center at
College of the Canyons, Vivian Lainfiesta, DEI Assistant Brandon Ashford, and the
Black Student Alliance for their support.
-- Pamela Bailey Lewis, Director
Kumasi J. Barnett received his MFA from The Ohio State University, and now lives and
works in Baltimore, MD. His works have been exhibited both in the United States and
abroad, including exhibitions at Lowell Ryan Projects, Los Angeles, CA; BravinLee
programs, New York, NY; the SPRING/BREAK Art Show, New York, NY; City Lore, New York,
NY; Con-Artist Collective, New York, NY; The Arsenal Gallery, New York, NY; Sulphur
Bath Studio, Brooklyn, NY; and The Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY. His museum
exhibitions include the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South
Africa; The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL; and most recently, the Verge
Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA. Barnett presented a solo booth with Lowell Ryan
Projects at The Armory Show 2020, in the Focus section curated by Jamillah James.
Barnett currently teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and his work
has been featured in Artforum, Ammo, Vibe, Hyperallergic, Huffington Post, Autre, Artnet News, and The Guardian, among others.
All images courtesy of the artist Kumasi J. Barnett, and Lowell Ryan Projects.
All works are acrylic, marker, pen, and oil marker on comic book with dimensions of
9 ¾” x 6 ¼.”
Join us for the artist talk!
Time: Feb 25, 2021 02:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
https://canyonsonline.zoom.us/j/96250014638
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Meeting ID: 962 5001 4638
Find your local number: https://canyonsonline.zoom.us/u/acl2KcLsaZ
ATTN PARTICIPANTS: If you are a student, wanting extra credit for attending this webinar,
please list your name in ALL CAPS and the name of your professor in the Q&A section
on the webinar. If you are faculty wanting flex credit, please write your name in
ALL CAPS and the word “faculty” in the Q&A section on the webinar.
@thekumasi
http://www.kumasijbarnett.com/press
https://www.lowellryanprojects.com/