SLATE contemporary is excited to participate in the Richmond Art Center’s Art of the African Diaspora satellite exhibition program! Art of the African Diaspora is the longest running event of its kind in the Bay Area, this year showcasing over 150 artists of African descent. This year, we are presenting works by two SLATE represented artists, Jimi Evins and Kaya Fortune.

Jimi Evins is an abstract expressionist painter whose work invites viewers to experience a vibrant emotional response, while satisfying his own profound need for self expression through a mastery of his creative practice. Influenced by diverse sources including Chinese calligraphy, the work of 19th century painter William H. W. Turner, and Abstract Expressionist painters from the 1950s, Robert Motherwell and Franz Kline; Evins’ work references myriad aspects of the human existence from our connection to landscapes, the rhythmic patterns of jazz music, and how we process current events in our everyday lives. As an art educator teaching out of his West Oakland studio, Evins also understands the importance of the creative process for those who may not have the opportunity to express their thoughts and experiences. While providing his students with a space and tools to develop their voices, he is reminded of the freedom that can be found in creative exploration. Jimi Evins graduated with high distinction in painting from California College of Arts.He has been a multi-year CAC Artist in residence, worked on various collective mural projects in the Bay Area and was the site coordinator and lead artist for the initial phase of 100 Families; Arts & Social Change Project in Oakland.

Kaya Fortune’s art work responds to the artistic culture of the African diaspora. His art is influenced by African symbolism, combining Islamic calligraphy and voodoo concepts to create his own afro rhythmic language. His artistic style is a vehicle for healing and sustaining our cultural traditions. His use of color, line and form are inspired by the improvisation of jazz music. He uses spray paint, as a layering process combined with acrylic paint to create depth in his work. The materials build on his observations of graffiti, as a form of urban communication and lettering style. Kaya Fortune received his BA in Fine Art and Anthropology at UCLA. He attended the Otis Art Institute and studied fashion and illustration, and he as been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Bay Area.