Otto Neals is a self-taught artist whose natural talents were matched by years of hard work. He has used a range of materials throughout his career, including watercolor, oil, pastels, mixed media collage, as well as clay, bronze, wood, and stone sculptures.
Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel)
This past year, we purchased Dr. Imo Nse Imeh’s piece, “Feeding the Veins of the Earth (Grounded Angel),” which is part of his “Benediction” series. This group of paintings envisions angels sent to Earth to be bonded to the skins of Black men and boys to bear witness to their traumas, triumphs, and lived experiences. Imeh graciously volunteered to share his reflections on this work and the conditions that brought it to bear.
Ralph Chessé: Self-Taught Artist and Puppeteer
Ralph Chessé is a self-taught artist who focused on painting, printmaking, theatre, and puppetry. His work has been exhibited at the Gildea Gallery, the Lucien Labaudt Gallery in San Francisco, the Duncan Gallery in New York, and the Marc Antony Gallery in New Orleans.
Collection Spotlight: Chawne Kimber
Dr. Chawne Kimber is a mathematician, wordsmith, and quilter who we’ve been fortunate to get to know during her tenure as head of the mathematics department at Lafayette College.
Her pieces make us reconsider the art world’s dated distinctions between “craft” and “high art” in relation to quilts and textiles.
In Memory of Winfred Rembert
We recently received the sad news of Winfred Rembert’s passing. While we did not have the pleasure of meeting him in person, his masterful artworks and life-long commitment to depicting his experiences in the Jim Crow South made a significant impact on us. Winfred Rembert’s life was extraordinarily tough. He spent the ‘40s and ‘50s […]
The Meticulous Improvisational Art of Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith
In spite of a global pandemic, we have been fortunate to be able to continue to grow our collection this past year. We feel particularly lucky two have acquired two pieces from the magnificent artist, Carl Richard “Dingbat” Smith, whose work was introduced to us by our friend, consultant, and fellow collector, Lewis Tanner Moore. […]
The Fluid Imagination of Alvin Booth
Although he has been a vehicle and an avatar for creative expression for most of his life, Alvin only recently began considering himself an “Artist.” Each one of his dynamic compositions speak through themes of personal introspection, and weave in the lyrical or geometric notations of music as well as patterned and figurative shapes.
Mavis Pusey: Expanding the Definition of Black Art
Almost a year ago, we were fortunate enough to acquire the last remaining set of thirty-six prints from the estate of the late Mavis Pusey who died on April 20th 2019 at the age of 90.
PFF Meets Stephen Hayes the Creator
Last year, PFF had the opportunity to visit the studio of Stephen Hayes the Creator. He gave us an intimate look into his studio and shared with us his origin story. It is no doubt that this man will be as legendary as he dreams.
PFF Introduces: Charles Edward Williams
Charles Edward Williams is a gifted figure painter with a remarkable personal history that informs his work and social outlook. As part of PFF’s mission in 2017-18 to augment our collection with younger African American voices, we traveled down to North Carolina to meet with Charles in his studio and add his work to our […]
Artist Spotlight: Arvie Smith
PFF featured artist Arvie Smith was born in 1938 in the Jim Crow South where he lived with his grandparents and great-grandmother, a former slave. As a teen, he moved to live in the de facto segregated areas of South Central Los Angeles and Watts. These early years laid the groundwork for his life’s work […]
Bruce Chessé proposes a toast
Our most heartfelt endorsement yet. Bruce Chessé, son of renowned African American and artist Ralph Chessé and dedicated preserver of his legacy, made this toast at a recent Constructing Identity reception. It’s moments like these that energize and inspire us to keep learning, stretching, and growing so that we honor those great masters who have […]