James Denmark

Easter

2018

After reading about the Civil War in an Ebony Magazine Encyclopedia series, Gray illustrated the heroism of the black soldiers who fought in the Civil War. The all-black 54th Regiment of Massachusetts fighting unit, has been the most mentioned fighting unit, bit there were other units if black soldiers that fought in the War Between the States. In "Blue and Gray", Gray depicts a battle scene between the black regiment, the Massachusetts 54th, and a confederate regiment against the backdrop of enslaved blacks work in the cotton field. The collection of available works artist Johnnie Lee Gray is handled exclusively by Neema Fine Art Gallery, an art gallery featuring phenomenal works of art by phenomenal Southern African American artists. Artist, Johnnie Lee Gray was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina in 1941. In his early years, Gray demonstrated artistic talent, painting & drawing as a way to express his emotions & depict his surroundings. Working alongside his grandparents in the fields of their sharecropper farm, & later as a carpenter, textile mill worker, & house painter, Gray learned early on to use the materials of his milieu to create works of art that drew on his memories & experiences as a black American man. After graduating from the county’s segregated Lincoln High School in 1960, Gray enlisted in the Army, where he served for seven years, including an 18-month volunteer tour of duty in Vietnam. As a Vietnam Veteran and self-taught artist, Gray’s work illustrated his experiences in the military as an African-American and the participation of black people in the history of the American and world landscape. Described as “visionary” “outsider” artist, the patterned shapes, visual texture, vibrant palettes and repetitive forms showcased in his paintings are recognizable characteristics of his historical narratives. The PBS television series, The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow...

This painting captures the sense of "double victory" the Tuskegee Airmen fought for--victory abroad and victory at home. The Tuskegee Airmen was the all-black World War II fighter squadron that never lost a bomber. The flag-wrapped Statue of Liberty's ringing of the Liberty Bell against the backdrop of clouds shaped in "V"s mirror the optimism some blacks had. They hoped that helping to win World War II would translate into victory against Jim Crow...

Eugene Uncle Cig' Head Jug, 2020

Awendaw Shrimpin', 2020

Magnolia Blossom, 2021

James Denmark is a formally trained artist, and one of the few masters of collage. Denmark utilizes an exacting process to cut and assemble brightly handcolored papers, fabric and objects into familiar figures and images. Denmark is also proficient in charcoal and watercolor. Born in Winter Haven, Florida in 1936, Denmark’s grandmother, a wire sculptor and quilt artist, exposed him to color and form at an early age. He was also influenced by his grandfather, a bricklayer noted for his unique custom design molds. Denmark attended Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, FL where studied under the artist and acclaimed African-American art historian, Dr. Samella Lewis and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. After graduating from FAMU, Denmark moved to Brooklyn, NY and began teaching art in the public school system. Denmark earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree at the prestigious Pratt Institute of Fine Arts in New York. While at Pratt, Denmark was heavily influenced by the abstract expressionists, admiring such mainstream artists as Jackson Pollock, Clifford Still...

Tomatoes by Mark Midgley. Original Oil on Canvas. The Cape Town artist, Mark Midgley, is originally from Leeds in the UK. He moved to South Africa in 1979, where he started a silk...

This European metal sculpture, most likely bronze or brass, is probably Anteros, God of requited love. The piece altogether is 18" in height; the figure itself 7.25". The bottom and...

Judy Chicago Logo Pin and Pendant, 1993 Enameled pin with pendant loop in original presentation box 2 1/2 × 2 1/2 × 1/5 inches Judy Chicago's incised name and date on the verso Comes in original presentation gift box Poignant enameled Holocaust Project Logo pin & pendant based on the logo designed by Judy Chicago for the Holocaust Project: From Darkness into Light More about pioneering artist Judy Chicago Judy Chicago (born Judith Sylvia Cohen; July 20, 1939) is an American feminist artist, art educator, and writer known for her large collaborative art installation pieces about birth and creation images, which examine the role of women in history and culture. During the 1970s, Chicago founded the first feminist art program in the United States at California State University, Fresno (formerly Fresno State College) which acted as a catalyst for feminist art and art education during the 1970s. Her inclusion in hundreds of publications in various areas of the world showcases her influence in the worldwide art community. Additionally, many of her books have been published in other countries, making her work more accessible to international readers. Chicago's work incorporates a variety of artistic skills, such as needlework, counterbalanced with skills such as welding and pyrotechnics. Chicago's most well known work is The Dinner Party, which is permanently installed in the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum. The Dinner Party celebrates the accomplishments of women throughout history and is widely regarded as the first epic feminist artwork. Other notable art projects by Chicago include International Honor Quilt, Birth Project, Powerplay, and The Holocaust Project. She is represented by Jessica Silverman...

This beautiful modern lamp by contemporary artist Susan Woods is both a unique piece of art and a functioning design element. The lamp is made out of con...

This contemporary piece from Danielle Krysa asks the viewer if beauty can be born from the wreckage of whatever each of our personal setbacks may be. The piece was created for Krysa'...

Calico Cotton, Vintage Fade Poly/Cotton and Denim, 69.5 x 83 inches, 2022 (Hanging hardware included) Julian J. Jones quilts made from images taken from the artist’s gestural, abstract drawings are inspired by traditional African American quilting...