Neema Gallery
About Neema Gallery
Neema Gallery is A Charleston, SC & Atlanta, GA based art gallery & art consultation firm featuring works of art by phenomenal Southern African-American artists. We specialize in assisting seasoned and novice art collectors as well as coorporate entities and interior designers in their search for phenomenal works of art by Southern African-American artists. We also offer collection management services, public and private art curation, and work with collectors and corporations to build a solid collection of investment Black art.
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Midnight Blues
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Midnight Blues, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Aunt Mae
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Miss Manigault
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Portrait Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Lowcountry Island
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Marsh Bend
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Southern Solitude
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Landscape Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Early Morning Cast
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Snap Peas Pickin'
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Dana Coleman is a contemporary Gullah artist who captures the dynamic, awe-inspiring beauty of the Lowcountry in each of his paintings. His realistic depictions of his Gullah heritage, lowcountry lifestyle, architecture and landscapes draw in the viewer, creating a one-on-one experience that lasts a lifetime. He uses natural and bright colors to execute his contrasting and harmonious work. After earning an associate degree in graphic design at Trident Technical College in Charleston, South Carolina, Dana studied civil engineering at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, where he refined his innate ability to recognize and execute the fine detail that can be found in his paintings. Dana, who has earned several awards for his artistic talent, always has believed that “You can paint anything you set your mind to.” His artwork captures the most vivid and fond memories he has collected since his childhood “in the country,” just outside of Charleston. He shares those experiences with viewers so they can enjoy the diverse and vibrant culture that is unique to Charleston. His architectural background has helped Dana reproduce the history and beauty found in the Charleston area, from its weathered houses and structures to its beautiful beaches and marshland.
With an ever-changing palette, Dana paints with various techniques, depending on the subject matter – and his emotional attachment to the subject matter. Applying paint with purpose and patience, he applies the strengths of each specific medium to achieve smooth, rich surfaces and crystal clear, vibrant hues. Dana’s artwork can be found in numerous private art collections around the world and has been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. His work is a permanent fixture at the Sierra Leone National Museum and the Fort Sumter...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Black Family
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Black Family, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Bless This Child
Located in Charelston, SC
Bless This Child, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
Edmond Pettus Bridge
Located in Charelston, SC
Edmond Pettus Bridge, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
The Realization of Oneness
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
The Realization of Oneness, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Solitaire
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
Solitaire, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Paper
Black Lives Still Matter
Located in Charelston, SC
Black Lives Still Matter, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
The Ramona Leeza
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for his detailed compositions in oils applied with loose brush strokes. He often features images of Black women and men engaging in everyday life in urban settings. Born in Newport News, Virginia with roots in Sumpter, SC, Noland's passion for figure drawing was formed at an early age. Noland attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he received an Associate Degree in Advertising. Upon graduating, he went on to work as a freelance illustrator, designing Judaic art...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic, Oil
Prayers Heal II
Located in Charelston, SC
Prayers Heal II, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
The Light of the World
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
The Light of the World, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Where I Come to Worship
Located in Charelston, SC
Where I Come to Worship, 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Protest (Triptych)
Located in Charelston, SC
Protest (Triptych), 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
Melancholy of Lonliness
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Melancholy of Lonliness, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Next to My Cows
Located in Charelston, SC
Next to My Cows, 2017
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Hoops Target
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Hoops Target, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Cloud of Witnesses
By Johnnie Lee Gray
Located in Charelston, SC
In this work, which took nearly three years to complete, great historical luminaries examine African-American life. All of the past and present problems black America faced at the time the piece was completed are present. Gray mixed in the reality of black despair with slight dabs of hope for the future. Luminaries featured include Harriet Tubman, Richard Allen, Marcus Garvey...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Figurative Paintings
Materials
Ink, Board, Acrylic
Lifeline
Located in Charelston, SC
Lifeline, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
Fishing Near the Lighthouse
Located in Charelston, SC
Fishing Near the Lighthouse, 1999
Category
1990s More Art
Materials
Oil
John Lewis :He Shed His Blood
Located in Charelston, SC
John Lewis :He Shed His Blood, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
We March From Selma
Located in Charelston, SC
We March From Selma, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
Feeding the Chickens ll
Located in Charelston, SC
Feeding the Chickens ll, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil, Wood Panel
Caribbean Vendor
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Caribbean Vendor, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Venus Rising
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Venus Rising, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Easter
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
Easter, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Feeding the Chickens I
Located in Charelston, SC
Feeding the Chickens I, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Wood Panel, Oil
Blue and Gray
By Johnnie Lee Gray
Located in Charelston, SC
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
To Save and to Heal
Located in Charelston, SC
To Save and to Heal, 2018
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Oil
Resurrection
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Resurrection, 2015
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Barnyard
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic, Paper
Royalty
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Royalty , 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Sunset
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
James Denmark is a formally trained artist, and one of the few masters of collage. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery with locations in Charleston, SC and Atlanta, GA, 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Lady With Flowers
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
James Denmark is a formally trained artist, and one of the few masters of collage. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery with locations in Charleston, SC and Atlanta, GA, 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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Careful Sparrow
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for his detailed compositions in oils applied with loose brush strokes. He often features images of Black women and men engaging in everyday life in urban settings. Born in Newport News, Virginia with roots in Sumpter, SC, Noland's passion for figure drawing was formed at an early age. Noland attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he received an Associate Degree in Advertising. Upon graduating, he went on to work as a freelance illustrator, designing Judaic art...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Monday Morning Blues 2
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Monday Morning Blues 2, 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Sunset
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
Sunset, 2021
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Eugene Tribute Jug (Miss Mable)
Located in Charelston, SC
Winton and Rosa Eugene are self-taught potters who have been creating award winning stoneware pottery together in South Carolina for over thirty-four years. Born and raised in Louisiana and South Carolina respectively, the couple made a second career in pottery making. Rosa is a retired nurse and Winton retired from a carpet installation business. He also served as an army paratrooper during the Vietnam War. Winton first learned to turn pots on a traditional kick wheel after being encouraged to do so by Rosa and their daughter Fredriana. A decade later, Rosa began coiling and glazing in collaboration with Winton. Today Winton creates pottery using an electric wheel and does most of the decorative work, while Rosa specializes in customizing and applying glazes and her repertoire includes a diverse range of types and colors. Rosa also produces large pieces of pottery including large bowls, vases, and decorative forms using the coiled method.
Most of the Eugenes' pottery incorporates detailed decorative work including painted scenes and carved relief work. These decorative elements involve images from nature and the surrounding environment. As Winton says, “In two hundred years, I want these things about my daily life to stand out, so others will know this is where I worked and lived.” Their experiences growing up in Louisiana and South Carolina, along with many years living in Chicago, inform much of their work.
The couple received honorary doctoral degrees in Fine Art from the University of South Carolina. Their work has been exhibited in museums across the globe including China, Germany, and throughout the South. Their rare and highly collectible Tribute Jugs are a part of the ground breaking traveling exhibit The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse, organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and curated by Valerie Cassel . The art exhibit proposes that the culture of the African American South, as defined by music and vernacular art, is the bedrock of American culture itself, with a strong influence on new art today. Works by the Eugenes are available at Neema Fine Art Gallery. Their Tribute Jugs are inspired by face jugs created by David Drake...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Glaze, Stoneware
Lowcountry Blue
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Lowcountry Blue, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Kinda Blue
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Kinda Blue, 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Matinee at the Ritz
By Johnnie Lee Gray
Located in Charelston, SC
As a child Johnnie Lee Gray loved to go to the movies on Saturday to watch Western serials. He went to the Ritz Theater, an all-black movie house. Blacks were either banned from, or restricted to the balconies, of "white" movie theaters. As with several of his paintings, the artist is the man to the left with the big hat.
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...
Category
1990s More Art
Materials
Acrylic, Board
Days Inn
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
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, William...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Going to Market
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Going to Market, 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Special Gifts
By James Denmark
Located in Charelston, SC
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Mixed Media
Voodoo In the Vibes
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. He is known for his deta...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Charleston Blues
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Charleston Blues, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Blue Model
By Otto Neals
Located in Charelston, SC
Blue Model, 2019
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Acrylic
Catching Blue
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Catching Blue, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
The Helm of Thought
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for his detailed compositions in oils applied with loose brush strokes. He often features images of Black women and men engaging in everyday life in urban settings. Born in Newport News, Virginia with roots in Sumpter, SC, Noland's passion for figure drawing was formed at an early age. Noland attended the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale where he received an Associate Degree in Advertising. Upon graduating, he went on to work as a freelance illustrator, designing Judaic art...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Oil
Oyster Roast Study
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
Oyster Roast Study, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Let Freedom Ring
By Johnnie Lee Gray
Located in Charelston, SC
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...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Board, Acrylic
Play It On The B-Side
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
The Baptism
By Dana Coleman
Located in Charelston, SC
The Baptism, 2020
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Canvas, Acrylic
Eugene Tribute Jug (Ma Dora)
Located in Charelston, SC
Winton and Rosa Eugene are self-taught potters who have been creating award winning stoneware pottery together in South Carolina for over thirty-four years. Born and raised in Louisiana and South Carolina respectively, the couple made a second career in pottery making. Rosa is a retired nurse and Winton retired from a carpet installation business. He also served as an army paratrooper during the Vietnam War. Winton first learned to turn pots on a traditional kick wheel after being encouraged to do so by Rosa and their daughter Fredriana. A decade later, Rosa began coiling and glazing in collaboration with Winton. Today Winton creates pottery using an electric wheel and does most of the decorative work, while Rosa specializes in customizing and applying glazes and her repertoire includes a diverse range of types and colors. Rosa also produces large pieces of pottery including large bowls, vases, and decorative forms using the coiled method.
Most of the Eugenes' pottery incorporates detailed decorative work including painted scenes and carved relief work. These decorative elements involve images from nature and the surrounding environment. As Winton says, “In two hundred years, I want these things about my daily life to stand out, so others will know this is where I worked and lived.” Their experiences growing up in Louisiana and South Carolina, along with many years living in Chicago, inform much of their work.
The couple received honorary doctoral degrees in Fine Art from the University of South Carolina. Their work has been exhibited in museums across the globe including China, Germany, and throughout the South. Their rare and highly collectible Tribute Jugs are a part of the ground breaking traveling exhibit The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse, organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) and curated by Valerie Cassel . The art exhibit proposes that the culture of the African American South, as defined by music and vernacular art, is the bedrock of American culture itself, with a strong influence on new art today. Works by the Eugenes are available at Neema Fine Art Gallery. Their Tribute Jugs are inspired by face jugs created by David Drake...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Stoneware, Glaze
Womack
Located in Charelston, SC
Noland Anderson is a self taught portrait artist who strives to create works of art that are a celebration of people of color. Represented by Neema Fine Art Gallery, he is known for ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary More Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
