Many of the paintings, drawings and sculptures of Kevin Cole address the lives and struggles of African Americans in the South – drawing from themes of historical and societal import, including voting rights, family life and faith.
Some 50 of these works are now on display at the 91ֱ of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) Arts Program Gallery in 91ֱ, Maryland, in an exhibition titled Pushing Forward: Politics, Social Conflict and the Racial Divide in the Art of Kevin Cole.
“The language of Cole’s artwork carries a deeper message for the viewer,” said Eric Key, director of the Arts Program at UMGC. “His work relates thoughtful stories and histories that reflect important issues in our society while also evoking a response from the viewer.”
The show runs through Jan. 5, and can be viewed alongside UMGC’s permanent collection, which includes works by Andy Warhol, Herman Maril, Grace Hartigan, Joyce Scott, Gladys Goldstein, Raoul Middleman, Joseph Sheppard, Jacob Lawrence, Sam Gilliam, Paul Reed, Alma Thomas, Samella Lewis, and David Driskell.
The exhibit kicked off Sept. 22 with an artist talk with Cole moderated by Melanee Harvey, associate professor and coordinator of art history at Howard 91ֱ. In a wide-ranging conversation, Cole looked back on his childhood influences, his career trajectory, and his first major mentor, John Howard from the 91ֱ of Arkansas, Pine Bluff (UAPB). He also discussed his own later mentorship of Henri Linton, also of UAPB, who was inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame in 2001.
The UMGC exhibition includes pieces from Cole’s “Sign of the Times” series, which was inspired by a story his grandfather told him of how African Americans were lynched by their neckties during the Jim Crow days, hanged from trees on their way to vote. Neckties intertwine with the American flag and other symbols of the history of African Americans in two notable works on display from that series. “Working People” is a charcoal on paper piece, and “The Struggle of the Families” is mixed media on canvas.
“I wanted to talk about the struggles of the families,” Cole said. “The flag is tied into a knot, symbolic of a family trying to hold everything together.”
Cole is known for his vibrant, ribbon-like sculptures, and the wall sculptures in the UMGC exhibition are colorful, energetic and visually pleasing. However, the underlying themes and symbolism in each work are what pull the viewer in. Cole draws inspiration from the legacy of African American culture in the South, particularly the hardships and triumphs faced during the Civil Rights Movement.
His use of color, texture and form creates powerful visual narratives that explore personal and collective experiences, emphasizing resilience, freedom and the ongoing struggle for equality.
“Faith” is also a recurring theme in Cole’s work, notably in his mixed media fabric constructions.
“My grandfather would explain to me that despite all you're going through, we still come out on top, and that everything is based on faith,” he said.
In “Faith Is All I Need Along the Way,” convoluted shapes represent the roads we travel through life. The different textures remind the viewer that the journey is not smooth.
Cole is a member of the AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists), a collective that evolved from the Civil Rights and Black Power movements. Founded in 1968 by Chicago-based artists Jeff Donaldson, Wadsworth Jarrell, Jae Jarrell, Barbara Jones-Hogu and Gerald Williams, the collective’s mission is to create images committed to the expression of the African diaspora. The influence of the collective permeates Cole’s work.
Even though he often highlights the struggles of African Americans, Cole’s work is also forward looking, offering messages of hope, healing and unity, as best summarized by Treston Sanders, curator of the UMGC Arts Program.
“Cole’s works are rendered in vibrant colors and dynamic patterns, representing the enduring strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity,” Sanders said.
A highlight of Cole’s commitment to create art in the American South is the Coca Cola Centennial Olympic Mural, commissioned for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta. The mural aims to welcome the world to Atlanta and features many of Georgia’s unsung heroes.
Pushing Forward: Politics, Social Conflict and the Racial Divide in the Art of Kevin Cole, spanning more than 40 years, is on display in the Arts Program Gallery, at the College Park Marriott Conference Center, through Jan. 5, 2025. Admission is free.
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