By Lester Williams Jr, Contributing Write
Tampa’s Black artists have made an impact in the art industry. Multiple Black artists in Tampa have made a name for themselves using their skills, passions, and ability to create art.
February is Black History Month and it is an ideal time for Tampa residents to look back on the accomplishments of Black artists and how they remind society of the significance art has to the world.
To help celebrate the achievements of Black artists, Tampa residents can focus on supporting new and old Black artists at their art shows, on social media, and on their online platforms where they sell their art.
Some Black artists from Tampa who are making a name for themselves in recent years are Cheryl Weber, Cam Parker, and Skylar Suarez. All three artists, along with several others, have put their skills to the test in order to create the Black Lives Matter mural located in St. Petersburg.
All artists that were involved in this project painted their own small mural which is directly inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. The mural is located at the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
When it comes to Weber, also known as Jujmo, her mural expresses an escapist style which can be described as bubbly due to aspects like happy faces. Using this style to describe the Black Lives Matter movement, Weber hopes that her art will give the movement a new positive identity.
Parker, who goes by the name Painkiller Cam, is an artist specializing in tackling topics such as popular culture using methods such as colored pencils and spray paint. For his art mural, he pays tribute to the iconic accessories and hairstylists of Black people. With his mural, he wants people of color to praise themselves.
In the case of Suarez, who also goes by the nickname Nuclear Sky, Suarez is an illustrator, painter, and designer who is recognized for her art style inspired by comics and using bright colors. For her mural, the concept reflects the idea that everyone is observant and there is not much time left. Suarez also comments that she feels the mural signifies that there is hope for the future.
Another way Black artists from Tampa are being promoted is in art shows such as the ones put on by companies at the Gallery221 @ HCC, located at 4001 W Tampa Bay Blvd.
One of the current art shows on display is a traveling exhibition known as “Reverberation: Black Artists on Racism and Resilience.” This exhibition is by the Woodson African American Museum of Florida located at 2240 9th Ave S, St. Petersburg, Florida. The museum is also devoted to sharing the artwork of new and old Black artists from the Southeast Coast of America.
The exhibition will take place between Jan. 10 and Mar. 3, 2022 on the second floor of Gallery221 @HCC Dale Mabry Campus.
For this exhibition, they will be focusing on exploring the experience of Black people in America.
One of the exhibition’s goals is to present stories that acknowledge resilience, hope, oppression and structural racism.
Black History Month is being celebrated, and it is the perfect chance for people to acknowledge the value of people of color by supporting Black artists living in Tampa.
