Kohshin Finley, Kish, 2019
These contemporary artists are inventing new visual idioms to capture the full spectrum of their lives and communities.
February 16, 2022
February welcomes Black History Month, a time to reflect on and celebrate the myriad contributions African Americans have made to society. While historical or famous figures often get the spotlight, it is also an ideal moment to zoom in on the Black artists who are shaking up the world today. Since we here at the Artnet Gallery Network make it our mission to discover emerging talents, in honor of Black History Month, we’ve narrowed the field to seven contemporary African American creators we think everyone should know.
Artist: Kohshin Finley
Hometown: Los Angeles
Current City: Los Angeles
Medium: Finley is known for his grisaille portraits.
Gallery: His work can currently be seen in the group exhibition Portraits at New York's Tilton Gallery.
Why We Like It: Finley's paintings document the lives of his friends and family; he often snaps photographs on an instant camera while out and about, which he then uses as the basis for his oil paintings. The artist works in grisaille, and his paintings can have an effect similar to black-and-white photography, focusing attention on the details of his scenes.