The Black Aesthetic Project

A digital collection of images that express black identity and creativity

Visual culture has been a form of captivity for black people. For hundreds of years in America, blacks have had no control over public perception of what it means to be black. Our cultural expression has been stifled. Our image subject to the powers that be.

The images of big-lipped buffoons that clumsily strutted across the stages of minstrel shows still haunt our nightmares. These images were once the lens to our culture: narrow in scope and absolutely humiliating.

Today it’s not much different. The media describes us as less than “angels.” It often portrays us as angry thugs destined for penitentiaries or an early graves. We are still not in control of the image.

The Black Aesthetic Project is an attempt to reverse some of what’s gone wrong. The goal is to capture the vibrance of the black aesthetic, gain a deeper understanding of black visual culture and the beauty of our identity. The project is divided into four sections: photography, paintings and illustrations, musical artwork and commercial/promotional artwork.

This is an ongoing collection that aims to counteract what we typically see. If the images below inspire you, I urge you to start your own collection — black is beautiful.

NOTE: I do not take credit for the production of any of these images. Attributing these images is a laborious process; it will be ongoing. If you see an image that does not contain attribution/is wrongly attributed and you know the source, PLEASE leave a note next to the image.

Photography

Afrofuturist portrait by the L. Park Project. More photos: https://www.facebook.com/thelparkproject/photos_stream

Biggie Smalls counting cash in a Coogi sweater. Photographer unknown.

Method Man blowing smoke rings

Paul Octavious “The Pantone Project.” More of his work can be found here http://www.pauloctavious.com/

Image of Tyler, the Creator from an Odd Future photoshoot by Terry Richardson.

Erykah Badu. Photographer Unknown

Polaroid photos of Basquiat. Photographer unknown.

Protester in Ferguson throwing streamers back at abusive police.

Children running in Cabrini Green by John H. White. See more of his work on Chicago Mag: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/May-2013/Black-Chicago-In-the-1970s-Through-the-Lens-of-John-H-White/#/0

John H. White. Here is another library of his work from DOCUMERICA https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives/sets/72157633309290525/

Photo from February cover story in WIRED http://www.wired.com/2014/02/questlove-essay/

Jean Luc Dushime “Black is Beautiful” http://jeanlucdushime.com/

Paintings and Illustrations

Basquiat, “Self Portrait”

Romare Beardon

Basquiat “Ace Combs”

Margaret Bowland

Reginald Baylor

Funk Generations Brian Zickafoose. More here: http://www.brianzickafoose.com/tag/zicka-funk/

Original artwork for Spark Journal. Illustration by Aaron Douglas.

Romare Bearden

William Johnson “Self Portrait”

Music Artwork

A Tribe Called Quest — “Low End Theory”

Sun Ra — Various Album Covers

De La Soul — “3 Feet High and Rising”

Grace Jones — “Slave to the Rhythm”

Beyonce — “Flawless” Single Cover

Herbie Hancock — “Sextant”

Minnie Riperton — “Perfect Angel”

Kid Cudi — Various

Ki

Pharrell Williams

Jimi Hendrix — Various

Odd Future — Earl Sweatshirt Illustration

Funkadelic — Various Album Covers

Kanye West — Various

Commercial Art and Publication Covers

Virgil Abloh “Off-White” clothing line http://off---white.com/

Winold Reiss Illustration

Mars Blackmon Nike spot with Michael Jordan

The Black Panther Magazine, 1969

Afropunkfest 2013 flyer

Power Man and Iron Fist Issue #123

Tuskeegee Airmen postet from WWII

Melvin Van Peebles on the Jet Magazine cover

Barack Obama “Hope” campaign poster. Artwork by Shepard Fairey. More artwork here: http://www.obeygiant.com/

Winold Reiss Illustration

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