Ka, Charlotte, I Hear a "Rap"sody, acrylic over collage, 36 x 24 inches Artist Bio: I am originally from a small village called Crestas Terrace, located twelve miles east of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A beautiful village perched high on our Pennsylvania Hills. This was a northern town with Southern sensibilities. The original inhabitants were comprised of black folk who had come north to escape the burdens of the south by working in the steel mills and other factories. Both my father and grandfather worked in those mills. My mother was a beautician. I left my small village for New York to study art at The Cooper Union for the advancement of Science and Art. I was in New York during the Black Revolution of the 60’s and was inspired by that period of defiance “Black Power”, and the adoption of the culture of the Motherland, Africa. I totally immersed myself in a new lifestyle that included my African American and African heritages. The inspiration for my art making is the love of art, dance and music from the classical beauty of the art of Africa to the blues and funk. I am also deeply inspired and involved in the music of our survival the “ Spirituals”. Memories of these strong and mighty foundations allow for much creative exuberance, mystery, magic and fun. My current artistic concentrations are paintings, mosaics and installations. The installations are inspired by historic events with the general theme of ”the power of the spirit to overcome obstacles”. The paintings and mosaics illuminate in abstract language “the beauty of spirit”. I have exhibited extensively: Kenkeleba/ Mocada /The Schomberg and others in New York City. The August Wilson Center, Pittsburgh Center of the Arts ,The Center of Contemporary Crafts in Pittsburgh. Exhibited and traveled internationally: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and the Ivory Coast as well as Cuba, Jamaica and Brazil. Currently I reside in Pittsburgh Pa. and also maintain a studio in Brooklyn, NY. My partner Errol Reynolds and I have restored a building slated for demolition by the city of Pittsburgh. We added two stories and transformed it into a jewell of the historic Hill District of Pittsburgh. It is the MOKA, (Mecca of Kulture and Art); an art studio, gallery and residence. I have received honors that include A NYFA award in Painting and The Advancing Black Arts Grant from The Heinz Endowments and The Pittsburgh Foundation. I have created a suite of abstract paintings for that award to honor Pittsburgh's renowned musician and composer Billy Strayhorn. Mentored by international sculptor Selma Burke at its founding, Women of Visions has sustained 40 years in the city of Pittsburgh as the only non-profit collective of African American women visual artists. Women of Visions mounts group and collaborative exhibitions, teaches classes to people of every generation, and networks to build relationships in the arts and lay community both in and outside the city of Pittsburgh. The members of Women of Visions represent a diverse range of lifestyles and artistic experiences; thus rich and varied expressions of personal, social, and political views are presented in each exhibition the group organizes. Over the course of 40 years, Women of Visions has continued to nurture and support professional and emerging women artists of color, and to bring to the general public the full richness and scope of our cultural heritage. Currently, Women of Visions is the oldest women’s organization of its kind in the country. They have experienced the years of both revolution and evolution. Now, with the country’s historic placement of a woman of color in the role of Vice President of the United States, this historic organization seeks ways to push themselves and their art to the next level. As part of their growth strategy, Women of Visions has inducted 16 new members in one year, amplified their mission with ground-breaking exhibitions, and are poised to pass on their legacy of establishing “excellence in the visual arts” to the next generation of African American women. In 2021, Women of Visions was awarded the title of “American Cultural Treasure” by the Ford Foundation and Heinz Foundation. For more information visit womenofvisionspgh.org. Merchandise will be packed and transported by the purchaser at their own risk and expense. A list of recommended shippers is on our website: https://www.conceptgallery.com/auctions/shipping/ .