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Kuheshimu Mababu Zangu, First show of 2025

I’m so excited to be showing a new body of work at the Smalter Art Gallery. I’ve been working on this series for about 2 years now and I’m excited to have them all shown together. This collection I started early in 2022. This show is a snapshot in time of the work I’m currently creating. I enjoy working in series and while this show is complete, I still have several more that I’ll continue to work on to add to it. https://smalterart.com/event/kwanza-humphreys-kuheshimu-mababu-zangu/

Opening Saturday 2/8/2025, 5-8 pm at The Smalter Gallery. The show will run through the month of February. Closing will be weekend of March 7th

“Kuheshimu Mababu Zangu” 

Deep Roots, Oil on canvas 48 x 60 in (121.92 x 152.40 cm)

In this exciting and timely new series, mid-career artist Kwanza Humphrey tenderly pays tribute to those oft-forgotten African tribal artisans who inspired this work. Humphrey’s ancestral home is on the vast continent of Africa, and through this work, he reaches back in time to create a bridge with those in the motherland who have inspired him and so many others with their work. Working in the tradition of folk and vernacular art, Kwanza elaborates on ideas and concepts represented in the tribal narrative. Humphrey elevates and transforms the utilization of the masks from a primarily utilitarian purpose into a reflective concept. Through this process, the artist honors their tradition and introduces new audiences to these seminal creatives, their influential work, and their legacy of artistic brilliance and innovation.

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The Baule

Baule
A loss is never easy to endure. I am mourning through the journey of time to flow with the idea of a missing puzzle piece that cannot be found. What are the events that led to the sudden light extinguishing? What could have been done to let that one remain? Why now? A change must create a future that allows the gifts of the taken to be realized. Can there be a place where you can just be? Is it through the pain and struggle that a more intentional life is lived? This pain I accept it on behalf of others so that they can move into the river that sustains life beyond just survival but jumps to experience all that is there to take in truly.

(The Baule people are one of the largest ethnic groups in Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). They belong to the Akan peoples who inhabited Ghana centuries ago. According to a legend, in the eighteenth century, the queen mother, Abena Pokua, had to lead her people west to the shores of Comoe, the land of Senufo.  In order to cross the river she sacrificed her own son.  This sacrifice was the origin of the name Baule, for Baouli means “the child has died”.

Baule art is sophisticated and diverse.  Masks, sculptures, doors and other objects allow a closer contact with the supernatural world. A mask of this type shown here was danced for the annual yam festival and also for entertainment during market days.)

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New work in the hopper

Works in progress, graphite on paper, prismacolor on gessoed board, and oil on canvas

I’ve been working on a few pieces to get ready for my upcoming show in February at Smalter Gallery. The sketchbook and graphite have been off to the side for a while though, so I thought I’d bring them back in the loop. There are only so many hours in the day, so it’s hard to find time to explore all that I want to do, but I’m happy when those little nuggets present themselves. I have a couple commissions coming up to work on, but I like throwing in a few personal pieces to keep the creative juices flowing. I like the way these smaller works on board are turning out (inspired by arts on fire 6×6). Feels good working with graphite again though.

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Do Mask- mixed media on panel.

I’ve been working on several pieces on panel lately. Experimenting with my technique and I’ve been happy with the results so far. The work is pulling me in a direction of discovery and heritage. I’ll continue to push the materials and ideas until something else inspires me.