NEW YORK—The Harlem Fine Arts Show, which opened Thursday is very much a community affair. Occupying two floors of Riverside Church, the show drew a diverse mix of dealers of African and African-American art, as well as artists representing themselves.
Opening night visitors were clearly there to enjoy themselves. More so than at other art fairs this season—many attendees were ready to buy rather than merely browse. Live music and drinks flowed through the evening, and though the coat check line extended down the hall, everyone was in too good spirits to mind.
On Saturday, art collectors Winston and Carolyn Lowe will hold a lecture series on the importance of African American and African diaspora art and its impact on the aesthetic of the art world in the U.S. and abroad.
Harlem Fine Arts Show
Jan. 30–Feb. 2
Riverside Church (91 Claremont Ave.)
Day pass $20. hfas.org
Photos below from the opening night of the show, all by Epoch Times photographer Samira Bouaou.
Ghanaian artist Tafa, who resides in Harlem, was named Sport Artist of the Year by Alabama’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives. Here he poses in front of his painting, “I am King of the World.”
Visitors to the booth of Walter and Cathy Shannon, based in Louisville, K.Y. eandsgallery.com
“Pink Umbrella” by quilter Sherry Shine, represented by E&S Gallery.
“Hidden Message on the Line 1” by Sherry Shine depicts the secret patterns that communicated escape directions to slaves traveling the Underground Railroad.
“Malcolm X b.u.f” by Walter Lobyn, represented by E&S Gallery. Lobyn creates his art by shattering and arranging vinyl records.
A man views landscapes by Indiana-based artist Mason Archie at the booth of E&S Gallery.
“Marshland 2” by Mason Archie.
Musicians perform at the opening night of the Harlem Fine Arts Show, Jan. 30.
A woman tries on a hat at the booth of Suzette Art Couture. Suzette Hallman is a collage artist-turned-milliner.
A mixed-media work by renowned artist Leroy Campbell.
A lidded ceramic bowl by Zimbabwean artist Owen Maseko as seen at the booth of Nkosi Imported Crafts, Plainfield, N.J. Each piece’s base is thrown on a potter’s wheel and the figures are hand built.
Ceramic sculptures by Woodrow Nash.
Woodrow Nash adjusts handmade ceramic beads that adorn one of his sculptures.
Artist Frank Frazier creates mixed-media works and drawings like this one, done in shoe polish as a reference to whites who used to wear blackface to depict African Americans in performances.
Figures at the booth of Universal Creations, based in New Jersey.