Willie Torbert

Profile, woman in profile, earrings, cut paper collage w hand drawn elements

Collage and acrylic paint on sintra panel, excellent gift

These collages were created first in the presence of a model, working quickly, in charcoal and pastel, and again, later, alone, furiously tearing and pasting images from magazines, v...

"Sista Annie Mae" is an original piece by Shawn Theodore made from hand-crafted paper collage and acrylic and archival ink on Epson Hot Press Natural paper on wood panel. Theodore delves into the specific experiences of African American families, capturing a longing for lost photographs, missing heirlooms, and vanished archives. Using a blend of traditional portraiture, found photographs, paint, paper, pencils, and digital manipulation, Theodore creates archetypes representing hypothetical family members, spiritual guardians, and ancestors. These boldly crafted archetypes inhabit an imagined macro-family album, offering a unique perspective on portraiture, connection, and community. Theodore's work aims to deepen spiritual connections and encourage personal introspection. This piece measures 36”h x 48”w and comes with a gallery-issues Certificate of Authenticity. Shawn Theodore (b. 1970) was born in Germany to American parents from Philadelphia, and currently lives and works in Philadelphia. Theodore was awarded the prestigious PDN’s 30 New & Emerging Photographers to Watch (2019), the Getty Images / ARRAY ‘Where We Stand’ grant, and a grant from the Knight Foundation for ‘A Dream Deferred’. Theodore was a two-time nominee for the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Fellowship and a nominee for the Magnum Foundation Fund. He is an Associate Adjunct Professor at the University of the Arts, a trustee of The Print Center, a trustee of the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, and a former trustee of the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center. Theodore was announced as a two-time nominee of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Fellowship and a nominee of the Magnum Foundation Fund in 2018. In the following years 2019 and 2020, he was awarded the PDN's 30 New & Emerging Photographers to Watch and AI-AP American Photography 35. He has had several solo exhibitions and is included in several group exhibitions. His work is held in the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; the collection of the Philadelphia Library, Drexel University's Center for Black Culture, the Mennello Museum of American Art, Orlando; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago; the Walker Center, Minneapolis; the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington D.C.; the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas; and the Legacy Museum, Montgomery, among others. Artist photo...

Abstracted Three Women with Earrings Figurative in Pastel on Paper Vivid abstracted profiles of three women wearing earrings by Black Arts Bay Area artist, Kelvin Curry (American, 20th Century), circa 2000. Three women's profile in in bold cobalt blue and playful colors of fluorescent red and yellow. Black outlines and tribal designs creates even more contrast, making this piece read well from a distance. The tall and thin size of this piece makes this ideal for those difficult and odd sized walls Signed lower left corner Presented in new, acid-free black mat. Mat size: 38"H x 16"W Paper size: 30"H x 11"W Image size: 28.50"H x 9.50"W Born in Oakland, California Kelvin Curry's creative destiny was clear early in life. Initially using black and white graphite as his medium and later expanding into mixed media to bring about multi-dimension; as well as a sense of rhythm and grace in the abstract female figure. Kelvin Curry studied fine arts at San Jose State University and has been making and exhibiting art all his life. Curry has a keen understanding of the arts, particularly the black arts movement in and around the Bay Area. Kelvin has exhibited his work in hundred of juried festivals, exhibits, and galleries throughout the country. Visitors from countries such as South Africa, Japan, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and China have chosen his work to adorn their homes in their native lands. Collectors include Randy Crawford, Nancy Wilson...