BLK ART: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art

I fell in love with this book. It has changed the way I view art, which is amazing.Zaria Ware’s BLK ART focuses on the highlights of nearly 1000 years’ worth of Black visual history within the Western world. It’s so good! It makes everything else make sense! Like, you know, how Africa is the birthplace of humankind and yet the art that we are usually presented with is of & by a bunch of stodgyass whiteys? (No offense, some of my best friends are white.) (I’m white.) Anyway, this book helps contextualize that noise, along with presenting varied, gorgeous representations of Black art. I learned a lot from this book. Cheers & props & accolades to this book, which, by the way, would make a fantastic gift for any art lover you know.This book is great. You should read it. Or get it. Or give it.I leave this book with a new curiosity and understanding. Who was represented in art? What’s the rest of the story behind the images we see? Which pieces are shared, and which didn’t receive as much attention? What incorrect assumptions came from the images that resulted? Zaira’s hella-enjoyable voice (conversational, matter of fact, funny) leads you through some inquiries and celebrations.

Zaria Ware's BLK ART presents rich historical information in a really fun, accessible way. While many of the artists and works discussed by Ware have been treated by others in footnoted scholarly texts, it's thrilling to see a book that is both rich in history and storytelling and will be equally at home on a bedside table and a museum library. Ware has a gift for making history come alive for her readers, and although this book provides a superb (and beautifully illustrated) overview that will be a perfect starting point for those just developing an interest in the history of Black artists and subjects, museum professionals and seasoned museum-goers will also find it informative and compelling.

BLK ART is a masterpiece. It took me on a journey that beautifully illustrates the impact and contributions of Black bodies and Black creatives - a story we rarely see. It is obvious Zaria put so much thought, research, and care into creating this book. A perfect addition to my book collection.