Black Art, Black Power: Responses to Soul of a Nation 2017

Abstract

This day-long conference brings together acclaimed contributors from the UK and USA for a series of unique presentations and rich panel discussions that explore the art, artists and social histories featured in the exhibition Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power. Topics of discussion include the role of key cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles and New York in the development of American art in the 1960s and 70s, the influence of American art on British artists in the 1980s and beyond, and contemporary artistic responses to new forms of social and political change.

Contributors include: Sampada Aranke (San Francisco Art Institute), Barby Asante (artist), Kevin Beasley (artist), Margo Natalie Crawford (Cornell University), Elvira Dyangani Ose (Creative Time and Goldsmiths, University of London), Tuliza Fleming (National Museum of African American History and Culture), Mark Godfrey (Tate), Lubaina Himid (artist; University of Central Lancashire), Kellie Jones (Columbia University), Melanie Keen (Iniva), Daniel Matlin (King’s College London), Marlene Smith (artist and curator), Luke Willis Thompson (artist), Sherry Turner DeCarava (art historian) and Zoe Whitley (Tate).

The conversation mainly focused on the two artist’s experiences navigating art school in the 80’s.

‘Intergenerational conversations also serve as means to break cycles’ – Melanie Keen.