In honor of Black History Month, we present the artists who inspire our team.
From the roller skating phenomenon with West African roots, to visual artists collaborating with the world's biggest fashion brands, the art of the African diaspora is being recognized more than ever. And it's about time. At yellowpop, we champion creativity in all its forms and colors. And our international team brings together a diversity of backgrounds and ideas. We love art and the people who make it - from all corners of the world. We're excited to share the work of these activists and artists, and we hope they inspire you as well.
Adam Pendleton: Text and context
When your first major collector is another artist, you know you're on to something. For Adam Pendleton, that collector was Sol Lewitt, who discovered Pendleton's work during a chance visit to a gallery. Over the past 15 years, the young artist has skirted art movements ranging from Dadaism to Minimalism, and is best known for his text-heavy screen-printed works. His practice includes video and performance, and his subject matter explores social movements, activism, and African American literature.
Nina Chanel Abney: The black look
Nina Chanel Abney tackles controversial topics through her "challenging use of color" and "unapologetic scale." From incarceration and police brutality to consumerism and cultural stereotypes, Abney uses her platform to stimulate conversation. Her spray-painted murals and studio-based monotypes pack color. She creates pieces that move at the speed of the internet and the "deluge of everyday events."
Virgil Abloh: Interdisciplinary design
Inspired by the sensibilities of the Bauhaus and Mies Van Der Rohe, Virgil Abloh fuses art, craft and design. The African-American architect and artist made his name in the fashion world by founding the luxury streetwear brand Off White. A few years later, he took over as artistic director of the menswear brand at Louis Vuitton. In addition to raising money for AIDS and pursuing his art practice, Abloh has shared his ideas in Stanford University's New Spaces of Justice course.
Oumi Janta: Art on wheels
For Senegalese-born Berlin designer Oumi Janta, becoming famous overnight was a real surprise. After a video of her roller skating went viral, her fun and colorful feed got many more fans (including some skating-curious celebrities). Whether it's training in a deserted airport or showing off her moves in a flashy " Cosmo Spread," the past nine months have been quite an adventure. A journey full of cool music, throwback style and joyful energy. It's exactly what we all needed during the pandemic.
Miranda Barnes: a subtle story
Through the lens of Miranda Barnes, the story of Black America unfolds. From her Caribbean ancestry and childhood in New York City, to her work in Texas and the Deep South, intimate glimpses of community and culture shine through. Brands like Calvin Klein and Apple have called on her to tell their stories, as well as major media outlets like Vanity Fair, The New York Times and Vogue. Barnes is a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.
Derrick Adams : Color and identity
For Derrick Adams, exploring the African American experience takes many forms. His interdisciplinary practice "probes the influence of popular culture" on identity, with a nod to history and the modern condition. Her Floater series, a group of brightly colored paintings of black Americans by a pool, has political significance in this second era of cultural revolution. Similarly, his videos and performance art address difficult questions about race in America.
Shantell Martin: Finding your line
Shantel Martin draws on everything. Paper. Walls. Household objects. Her clothes. Although her vision is not immediately clear, she has taken a note from artisans in Japan (where she lived). Perseverance and patience pay off. Her sense of playfulness and commitment to drawing freely have merged into a line that is instantly recognizable as her own. Martin has collaborated with Adidas on a line of sweatshirts, t-shirts and sneakers, and has even dabbled in neon as part of her work with the Whitney Museum.