November 19, 2023
The Atlanta primarily based artist’s physique of labor encompasses the Black expertise in America
Radcliffe Bailey, the artist identified for his contributions to Black artwork has died.
Bailey’s artwork depicted the Black expertise via work, sculpture and mixed-media items.
The artist typically included repurposed objects in his creations such the wood piano keys used “Windward Coast–West Coast Slave Commerce.” The show options a sequined head sitting atop a “sea” of wood piano keys and was featured within the Artwork In Frequent gallery in Chicago. The gallery label describes the which means of the piano keys.
“This piece expresses his love of music, in addition to the historical past, tradition and spirituality contained within the music. Right here, the undulating keys are organized to resemble the turbulent waters of Center Passage.”
In an interview with the Brooklyn Rail, the artist defined his course of in choosing the supplies for the 2021 piece, “Sluggish Blues.”
“I used indigo, and there’s that heavy, loaded which means behind indigo, used as a crop throughout slavery, and in addition references the blues. It’s a combination of all that. And the piece is in a cupboard, it’s not a body; I refer to those works as drugs cupboards. The thought was that everytime you get sick, you go to the medication cupboard to get one thing to make you are feeling higher. I check with reminiscence as drugs.”
Bailey was born on Nov. 25, 1968 in Bridgeton, New Jersey and was raised in Atlanta. He obtained his BFA from Atlanta Faculty of Artwork in 1991.
Whereas in school, he established himself within the artwork world together with his early works which had been impressed by the Hip-Hop tradition of the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Followers and associates took to social media to pay tribute to the famend artist, together with former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Bailey’s childhood buddy.
“Radcliff Bailey was one of many 1st boys I knew who wore a pink Polo. Even in seventh grade he was cool & leading edge. From @MBStadium, @HighMuseumofArt, airport & past he reminds us of our previous & offers hope for the longer term. We tip our hats & could the ancestors meet you w/open arms”pic.twitter.com/cbPR5yvpv4
— Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) November 16, 2023
Bailey is survived by his spouse Leslie Parks Bailey, daughter Olivia, son Coles, his father and mom Radcliffe Sr. and Brenda together with a number of household and associates.
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