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The Gorgeous and Magical Black Women Art You Must See

Everything shifts when the black women art we create stops asking permission and starts claiming space.

As I complete portrait 100, looking at how far we've come—from Edmonia Lewis selling sculptures for freedom to Amy Sherald painting Michelle Obama for the Smithsonian—I see we haven't just entered the room. We've redesigned it entirely.

The Current Revolution

My Black Women Art is part of a fundamental shift happening right now. We're not alternative anymore—we're the main event. Major collectors compete for Black feminine art. Museums restructure entire wings around our work.

But the real change is that young Black girls now grow up seeing themselves in art everywhere. Not just during Black History Month. Not just in special exhibitions. Everywhere, always. This visibility changes everything about how they see their possibilities.

Building on Precedent

When Gwendolyn Brooks won the Pulitzer in 1949, she created a precedent. When Alma Woodsey Thomas entered the Whitney at 80, she expanded what was possible. My Black art painting builds on what they started.

Each portrait adds to overwhelming evidence that Black women belong in every artistic space. The stars in my work aren't asking for room—they're claiming the universe. Every new piece makes exclusion harder to justify.

Beauty as Revolution

Kara Walker makes America confront its shadows through silhouettes. Carrie Mae Weems turns the personal into the political. My Black female artwork continues this tradition through beauty.

Beauty changes things subtly but powerfully. It enters hearts before minds can object. When Black women's beauty becomes undeniable, everything built on denying it has to shift.

The Digital Transformation

Traditional galleries limited who could see Black feminine art. But my Black culture art uses digital democracy. Someone in Ghana sees the same portrait as someone in Geneva, at the same time.

This changes everything about access and impact. We're not waiting for institutional recognition. We're building our own institutions pixel by pixel. The internet becomes our permanent, accessible gallery.

Our New Reality

Today's reality would amaze artists like Elizabeth Catlett, who faced exile for her political art. Now, pro Black art centering Black women tops auction prices. We've moved from the margins to the mainstream to setting the market.

My Black artwork documents this new normal. Each portrait assumes belonging rather than arguing for it. The 400-hour Royalty Series doesn't request space—it creates its own universe.

Your Place in This Moment

This moment is special and won't last forever. History shows us that doors open and close. That's why documenting ourselves now matters—creating art that can't be erased, building legacy while we can.

When you commission a portrait, you're not just getting art. You're claiming your place in this revolutionary moment. You're ensuring future generations see that you were here, you were beautiful, you were powerful.

Commission your portrait now, while everything is shifting in our favor. Be part of this historical moment. Your portrait isn't just art—it's history being written in real-time. Starting at $2,000.

Your Portrait Artist: Kenal Louis

My custom portrait commissions start at $2,000 for a 12" x 12" piece and $3,000 for a 20" x 20" artwork

Want to commission a one-of-a-kind portrait artwork for yourself or a loved one? 

Let's create something extraordinary together.

Tags: black women, black women art, black women empowerment art, black art painting, black artwork, black culture art, black female artwork, pro black art, contemporary art, black artist, black art artist, black visual artists

Kenal louis // Afrocentric Art

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September 25  

About the Author

Kenal Louis | Visual Artist & Designer

I've been drawing since I was 4 years old. If there was one thing I could wake up to do everyday for the rest of my life, it would be to draw.