Artist: Najee Dorsey
Aug 29, 2015 – Dec 05, 2015
Our fall 2015 exhibition season has opened with RESISTANCE by artist, collector, (and founder/CEO of Black Art in America Najee Dorsey. His mixed media works features a number of the heroes of the civil rights movements as well as 20th century activists. An essay entitled My Art is my Voice, written by Dr. Kamasi C. Hill describes the works stating, “Najee Dorsey’s mixed media series “Resistance,” is an artistic commentary on the various ways individuals have used their voice and bodies to “resist” and fight against the powers that be. Partially inspired by the Occupy Movement, Dorsey’s renditions include the Haitian Freedom Fighter Toussaint L’ouverture, A Native American man taking up modern arms, and an ode to unsung she-ro Claudette Colvin, amongst others.” The exhibition will be on view August 29-December 5, 2015.
Dorsey begins his artistic process by salvaging materials for his historic portrait photographs and other imagery from thrift and antique stores and online. He then creates a digital collage, adding text, layers of paint, torn paper and found objects blending the textures and colors to produce richness and depth. The resulting images reflect Dorsey’s interest in journeys that people embark upon as they search for a better life, and the resistance of those who stay where they are to fight the powers that be. Each composition blends multiple textures, colors, and layers to make the stories tangible for viewers. In the essay titled RESISTANCE SERIES: A CHANGE IS GONNA COME, Associate Professor of Fine Arts at Southern Illinois University, Najjar Abdul-Musawwir states “ The production timing of this series has placed Dorsey amongst the protest art activist of our time. The Resistance Series preserve a dimension of the Black experience never to be forgotten for generations to come. His social content is a conscious choice to have the viewer acknowledge our stories, which in actuality is every American story.”
Born and raised in the Mississippi Delta and now a Columbus, GA, resident Dorsey has exhibited his work across the nation including St. Louis University Museum’s 2014 exhibition, Hands Up Don’t Shoot. His work can be found in the collections of Charles H. Wright Museum, Detroit, MI, African American Museum in Dallas, TX, Marietta Museum of Art, Sarasota, FL, and Liberty Bank and Trust Company in New Orleans, LA. In addition, the 2006 Polk Museum of Art’s Patrons and Purchase award winner’s work has been featured on the silver screen including Devil’s Knot (2012) starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.
In addition to creating art, Dorsey is a major contributor to artistic activism as the CEO and founder of Black Art in America (BAIA), an online portal, focused on documenting, preserving and promoting the contributions of the African American arts community through programming including exhibitions, lectures and performances. Dorsey created BAIA in 2010 and now the site is the leading global online network and resource for African American visual artists, collectors, industry leaders, and arts enthusiasts.
Dorsey, who has exhibited his work across the nation including St. Louis University Museum’s 2014 exhibition, Hands Up Don’t Shoot. His work can be found in the collections of Charles H. Wright Museum, Detroit, MI, African American Museum, Dallas, TX, Marietta Museum of Art, (what part of FL, and Liberty Bank and Trust Company in New Orleans, LA. In addition, the 2006 Polk Museum of Art’s Patrons and Purchase award winner’s work has been featured on the silver screen including Devil’s Knot (2012) starring Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon.
Artist Talk : Thursday, October 15, 2015 6:30pm
This exhibition and it’s events are free and open to the public