NEWS
Now on Platform & Presented by Lowell Ryan Projects: Kumasi J. Barnett, Carrie Mae Smith
Platform is the e-commerce destination for buying art from today’s most sought-after artists. At the beginning of each month, Platform brings you a new limited-time selection of artworks to buy now, chosen in partnership with world-renowned gallery David Zwirner.
This month, Platform looks west to images, artists and galleries from the west coast's artistic capital.
Lowell Ryan Projects fosters a contemporary art program highlighting idea-driven yet highly material art practices. The gallery is devoted to artists who create new narratives in their work with sincere investigations that often cross disciplinary boundaries. Lowell Ryan Projects is committed to debuting compelling work by artists at all levels in their careers and development. The gallery is located in a split-level, art deco building with an outdoor sculpture garden in Mid City, Los Angeles.
Jessica Hammie
In Blackest Shade, In Darkest Light, an exhibit curated by U of I Associate Professor & Chair of Studio Arts Patrick Earl Hammie, opened in Parkland’s Giertz Gallery in November. Next week, you can hop online and hear from one of the featured artists, Kumasi J. Barnett. From the Giertz Gallery website:
“Barnett is influenced by the aesthetics and narratives of comic books. His work subverts and imbues the often-timeless genre with a present-day social consciousness. Riffing on classic superhero series including The Amazing Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, Superman, Daredevil, and Captain America, the work included in this exhibition are from a series that includes 100 hand-painted comic book works pinned up in their clear plastic sleeves.”
Barnett’s artist talk is part of the Black on Black on Black on Black Lecture Series. It begins at 6 p.m. on January 26th. You can register for the event here. In Blackest Shade, In Darkest Light will be open through February 18th.
Murcan Tales #207
Murcan Tales
The Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery
October 4 - November 10, 2022
The Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery at Springfield Technical Community College proudly presents the exhibition, “Murcan Tales,” by Baltimore artist Kumasi J. Barnett, on view from October 4 through November 10, 2022. Barnett will be on campus Oct 13-14 for in-person events, including meet and greet reception, student engagement activities, and Carberry Conversations interview.
Oct. 4 - Nov. 10: Exhibition, “Murcan Tales,” on view in Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery
Oct., 13, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.: In-person artist/Meet & Greet/Talk
Oct. 14, 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Virtual/Carberry Conversations, Interview with Kumasi J. Barnet and Special Guests MILE Peer Mentors and Students
Blackman: American Alien #6
American Alien
Carol Schlosberg Alumni Gallery
September 26 – November 19, 2022
Montserrat Galleries is pleased to present American Alien, a solo exhibition by the Baltimore-based artist, Kumasi J. Barnett. Influenced by the aesthetics and narratives of comic books, the exhibition features the artist’s ongoing series of hand-painted comic books that imbue mainstream comic genres with a present-day social consciousness.
Oct., 12, TBA: In-person artist/Meet & Greet/Talk
Artist Talk and Panel Discussion
Thursday: Jul 14, 2022 at 06:00 pm to 07:00 pm
The Peale: 225 Holliday St | Baltimore, MD
Join Baltimore-based artist Kumasi J. Barnett, chief curator Jeffrey Kent, and Morgan State historian Dr. Darryl Peterkin.
In this panel discussion, artist Kumasi J. Barnett and Peale chief curator, Jeffrey Kent, are joined by Dr. Darryl Peterkin, author and American historian from Morgan State University.
“When I was introduced to Baltimore-based artist Kumasi Barnett’s artwork in New York at the Armory Show in 2019, I was blown away by the content editing and visual editing process. So much that I felt very fortunate to have an opportunity to exhibit his artwork at the Peale.”
—Jeffrey Kent, Chief Curator, the Peale
THE AMAZING BLACK MAN: Kumasi J. Barnett Artist Talk and Panel Discussion
July 14, 2022, 6-7pm
FREE | In-person at the Peale
225 Holliday St | Baltimore, MD
* COVID protocols are in place when visiting the Peale; Proof of vaccination and masking required
Photo by Fabien Palencia
Installation view: Kumasi J. Barnett, The Amazing Black-Man at The Peale Center
Kumasi J. Barnett
The Amazing Black-Man, curated by Jeffrey Kent
May 21 – July 16, 2022
Opening: Saturday, May 21st 10am - 4pm
Lowell Ryan Projects is excited to announce Kumasi J. Barnett's first major exhibition in his hometown of Baltimore, MD, a survey exhibition of 245 works created between 2015 and 2022. The exhibition opens, Saturday May 21st at The Peale Center in Baltimore, MD and is curated by The Peale Center’s Chief Curator, Jeffrey Kent.
For more information about the exhibition please click: HERE
225 Holliday St
Baltimore, MD 21202
Thursday and Friday: 3-7pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am-4pm
Monday to Wednesday: Closed
***Visitors are required to present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, and wear a properly fitting face mask at all times while at The Peale Center.
thepealecenter.org
For more information about the artist and available works please contact: info@lowellryanprojects.com
Kumasi J. Barnett (b. 1974, Providence, RI) received his MFA from The Ohio State University, and lives and works in Baltimore, MD. Influenced by the aesthetics and narratives of comic books, his work subverts and imbues the often-timeless genre with historical context and a present day social consciousness. Barnett frequently paints directly over old copies of comic books, changing their narratives into reflections of real events and critiques of social and political issues, including police brutality, systemic racism, fake news, and our political system.
Barnett’s works have been exhibited both in the United States and abroad, including exhibitions at Lowell Ryan Projects, Los Angeles, CA; the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa; The Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL; The Verge Center for the Arts, Sacramento, CA; BravinLee programs, New York, NY; and The Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY. 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.
Kumasi J. Barnett
The Amazing Black-Man, #552, 2019
Acrylic, marker, pen and oil marker on comic book
9 3/4h x 6 1/4w inches / 24.77h x 15.88w cm
January 17 –
March 11, 2022
Andover, MA
February 21 –
March 11, 2022
Mansfield, OH
February 15 –
March 31, 2022
Santa Clarita, CA
America is another name for Madness
The Art Department at Phillips Academy Andover is pleased to present:The Amazing Black-Man: America is another name for Madness
A solo exhibition by Baltimore-based artist Kumasi J. Barnett. Riffng on classic superhero mythologies, the show will feature a collection of hand-painted comic book works pinned up in their plastic sleeves. For each work, Barnett has painted over the original comic replacing familiar heroes with characters from Barnett’s universe, among them The Amazing Black-Man, the Media’s Thug, Police-Man and Donald F*ck. Alteration here acts as an intervention. By addressing real world issues through a genre of superhuman mentalities, Barnett’s work dissolves the disconnect between contemporary American narratives and the reality of “justice,” making us reexamine cultural conceptions surrounding the Good versus Evil paradigm.
Power Vs. Power
The Pearl Conard Art Gallery at The Ohio State Mansfield's campus
A solo exhibition of Kumasi J. Barnett’s paintings coming soon.
And Other American Stories
The Amazing Black-Man And Other American Stories in College Of The Canyons’ Gallery 206
Kumasi J. Barnett’s paintings -- powerful, poignant, humorous, and sincere -- are made from actual comic books. 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.