Black History Month: Dawn Okoro
Psst… I can’t hold onto this secret any longer. I found Black gold the other day. She’s another phenomenal artist who inspires me. Let’s talk about:
Gold leaf — lots of it — is the first thing you notice about Dawn Okoro’s recent work. Think “shining star” rather than “ancient religious art.” She draws inspiration from a female hip-hop artist who has “the ability to shine in an industry that marginalizes the contributions of women.”
The metaphor works just as well to describe visual artists. In a survey of 31 museums, an art industry analysis showed only .5% of their acquisitions were created by Black women. As the report noted, “The overall trend in terms of acquisitions is upward, but the numbers remain staggeringly small.“
Here are a couple reasons I’m attracted to Okoro’s work:
It’s joyful, in a era that rarely allows for moments of Black joy
The women she portrays are active participants in life, not ornaments or objects to be consumed.
Besides social media, you can also see Okoro’s work in season two of “Law and Order: Organized Crime,” in film, and previously on a brand of bottled water. I believe the sentiment that fits Okoro best is “It’s her world; we just live in it.”
More Black artist goodness tomorrow. See you then.
