Details:
① Artwork:
Midnight Sail
Through the use of a thoughtful color palette and pronounced texture, this painting communicates the encapsulated emotions of the people of the African diaspora. The artist employs her signature grid pattern in unison with visible traces of motion to accurately reflect the story of her ancestors. This work, part of a series, directly references the fishing trade in Africa as a historical and crucial component of life, resources, and employment on the coast. Moreover, the series likewise references the threat to this way of life as these regions become at risk due overfishing by industrial trawlers with foreign interests, bringing compromise to artisanal or small-scale fishers, a sector in which half of all those employed are women.
Along with acrylic and oil stick, the artist incorporates cowrie shells and pearls into some of these works—capturing the physicality and essence of the historical events these compositions portray. The artist uses a grid format for her meticulously layered abstract works, applying what she calls “tiles.” This format creates a sense of control while providing a geometric balance that complements the heavy content of the artist's work. Cosbert extensively researches the history of the African diaspora—including the impact and consequences of subjugation and oppression—and chooses prominent historical events and political issues for her works. Cosbert's paintings are a journey toward self discovery, focusing on her own humanistic experiences and self-expression as an African American woman of Caribbean descent (Haitian and Guyanese). The artist's works simultaneously seek to influence viewers to experience historical events from an internal perspective—as well as ignite conversations.
Specs:
③ Artist:
Ryan Cosbert’s abstract paintings employ layered grid structures and vibrant colors to convey the emotions of the people of the African diaspora. The artist’s use of the grid format creates a sense of control, while also providing a geometric balance to the heavy content of each composition. Cosbert’s works are expressions of her experience as an African American woman of Caribbean descent—Haitian and Guyanese—as well as a response to prominent historical events and political issues.
Ryan Cosbert was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1999. The artist received a BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2021.
Solo and two-person exhibitions of Cosbert’s work have taken place at: The Undercurrent Gallery in Brooklyn, New York (2020); Mehari Sequar Gallery in Washington, D.C. (2021); and Luce Gallery in Turin, Italy (2022).
Group exhibitions that have shown Cosbert’s work include: Hereditary at Swivel Gallery in New York City (2022); Haywire: HOUSE OF CROWNS at Phillips Auction House x Superposition Gallery in New York City (2021); Vocoder at Macy Art Gallery, Columbia University in New York City (2021); CARPE DIEM at UTA Artist Space in Los Angeles, California and online (2021); Melrose at Harper’s Books in Los Angeles, California (2021); An Ode To at Band Of Vices coLAB in Los Angeles, California (2021); I SAW IT HANG DOWN THERE at Bode Projects in Berlin, Germany (2021); ARTNOIR x Artsy Benefit Auction, online (2021); The Privilege Of Getting Together Vol. 3 at Swivel Gallery in New York City (2021); Three Year Anniversary Hamptons Benefit Sale at Superposition Gallery in New York City (2021); 36 Paintings at Harper Books in New York City (2021); Tissue Memory at the School of Visual Arts in New York City (2020); Through Our Eyes at The DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities, online (2020); Serving the People BFA Show 2020, online (2020); Here We Are at SVA Gramercy Gallery in New York City (2020); Rough & Tumble Recordings Studio Collective Exhibition in New York City (2019); RnArt Art Show in Richmond, Virginia (2019); BSU 2018 Black History Month Art Exhibition in New York City (2018); and Art is for Lovers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (2015).
Art fairs exhibiting Cosbert’s work include: NADA MIAMI with Swivel Gallery in Miami, Florida (2021); Untitled in Miami Beach, Florida (2021); Dallas Art Fair in Dallas, Texas (2021); 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London with Luce Gallery in London, UK (2021); and 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair New York with Luce Gallery in New York City (2021).
Cosbert’s work has been covered in numerous publications, including: Artsy, Cultured Magazine, The Washington Post, Visual Opinion and the Washington Citypaper.
In 2021, Cosbert received the Barnes Foundation Scholarship. The artist received the Chairman's Merit Award from 2017–2021.
Through the use of a thoughtful color palette and pronounced texture, this painting communicates the encapsulated emotions of the people of the African diaspora. The artist employs her signature grid pattern in unison with visible traces of motion to accurately reflect the story of her ancestors.More
- Unframed
- Signed
