Voices of the Diaspora: The Artisans Behind the Canvas

Kevin Beasley (1985- ) is an American artist working across performance, sound, and installation. Beasley uses found materials to work through issues of race and power in the United States. He uses found objects such as shirts, colorful house dresses, and durags to create his sculptures. Sound is an important aspect of his work. Sonic elements and live performances connect his work to the physicality of the body and production.  Beasley received his BFA from the College for Creative Studies, Detroit, in 2007 and his MFA from Yale University in 2012. 

Khadija Saye (1992-2017), also known as Ya-Haddy Sisi Sayve, was a Gambian-British photographer and activist. Her photography explores aspects of her Gambian-British identity and mixed-faith background (her mother was Christian, and her father is Muslim). Her photographs situate her between two planes, her Gambian heritage and upbringing in the United Kingdom. Saye’s series, Dwellings: in this Space we Breathe, was shown at the 57th Venice Biennale's Diaspora Pavilion. It was a continuation of Saye’s exploration of her identity and heritage, specifically focused on the migration of Gambian spiritual practices.  Saye received her degree in photography University for the Creative Arts at Farnham and obtained a photography degree in 2013.  

Kofi Ansah (1951-2014) was a Ghanaian fashion designer. He was considered a pioneer in promoting modern African styles and design on the international stage. He founded Artdress, a design and creative concept company. His designs blend Western contemporary design and traditional West African art.  Anash received first-class honours degree in fashion design and distinction in design technology from the Chelsea School of Art in 1979. 

Kristen Woollery is an Afro-Trinidadian painter whose vibrant, bright palette is inspired by her Caribbean heritage. The stylized and geometric form of her subjects is informed by African masks, body paints, and textiles. Woollery's work seeks to honor the strength and perseverance of Black women.  

Kudzanai Chiurai (1981- ) is a Zimbabwean artist. He works across drawings, paintings, and video. His work is a commentary of social and political and social cycles and corruption. He draws from his understanding of history and personal experiences to inform his work. Chiurai was born one year after Zimbabwe gained independence from British rule, therefore his practice largely focuses on cycles of political, economic, and social conflict present in postcolonial societies. Chiurai received his BFA from the University of Pretoria in 2006. 

Kwaku Yaro (1995- ) is a Ghanian artist. His work is multidisciplinary, primarily taking the form of painting and textile-based mixed media. He uses upcycled carrier bags, wax prints and jute sacks in his paintings. This varied material reflects the diverse youth in Ghana. Yaro aims to represent the individuals around him, as well as beauty and fashion through his textile portraiture.  Yaro is a member of the Artemartis collective.

Kwame Brathwaite (1938-2023) was an American photographer. He is credited with popularizing the term, “Black is beautiful,” a phrase affirming the humanity and beauty of Black people. Emerging in the 1960s, the movement sought to dispel notions that Black features were ugly. His photographs captured life in Harlem, New York and in Africa. Brathwaite’s practice also included fashion show and jazz performances. He co-founded the African Jazz Art Society and Studios in 1956. 

Latoya M. Hobbs, printmaker and painter, makes large-scale portraits of Black women. Hobbs’ work explores ideas of beauty, cultural identity, and womanhood as they relate to women of the African Diaspora.  Hobbs received her B.A. in Painting from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and her M.F.A. in Printmaking from Purdue University.

Laura Wheeler Waring (1887-1948) was an American painter active during the Harlem Renaissance. She painted mostly portraits, but also created some still-life works. Many of her portraits include prominent figures of the first half of the 20th century, including W.E.B. DuBois, James Weldon Johnson, Marian Anderson, and Alma Thomas.  Waring studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, completing her studies in 1914. 

Lauren Halsey (1987- ) is an American artist whose work is grounded in the locality of her Southern California home, Los Angeles. Halsey creates site-specific and standalone installations that are inspired by the people in the immediate environment, paying close attention to the experiences of queer, Black, and working-class people. She critiques gentrification while suggesting creative solution.  Halsey received her MFA from Yale University, New Haven, CT in 2014. She received her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA in 2012.