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”
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.
