Black Art In America announces its exclusive representation of American artist Khalif Tahir Thompson

photo by Kevin Aranibar-Molina © Black Art In America

Black Art in America (BAIA) today announced it will be the exclusive representative of artist Khalif Tahir Thompson. Thompson, based in New York, has been making powerful work in his chosen styles of portraiture and figuration. His artistic practice includes painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, and paper-making. Khalif’s works can be found in a number of significant private collections nationally, as well as the Black Art In America collection, and the permanent collection of the David C. Driskell Center.

‘We are thrilled to welcome Khalif into the family of contemporary artists represented by BAIA.” said Najee Dorsey, founder and CEO of Black Art In America, LLC. “As a multifaceted arts company, we strive to be a resource for artists and collectors alike, while championing artists deserving of the public’s attention. Khalif is an exceptional talent, and we’re proud to represent him to our community of art collectors, museum professionals and art enthusiast globally.”

Working primarily through portraiture and figuration, Thompson builds open and atmospheric compositions rendered from found or handmade materials, creating environments that host concepts focused on self-identity, race, spirituality, psychology and indefinable things that make each person an individual. He seeks to create sensitive and emotionally rich works that are derived from his own experiences. His figurations include probing elements of paper-making and collage. His works are large-scale and his process includes layering surfaces that inform the structure, allowing them to emit a stream of consciousness.

Thompson maintains an inner dialogue with his subjects using text and journal entries, as well as metaphorical imagery. His paintings are active in exploring different modes of working that offer a hands-on approach to molding the material. The impermanence of life and its creations are an engrossing enigma within his paintings, and he attempts to augment that presence. Through the representation of his immediate surroundings, relationships, memories, thoughts, and sentiments he provides them with importance and influence. All his work is a pure and consummate search for who he is told through eloquent storytelling.

Thompson holds a Bachelor in Fine arts degree from Purchase College and completed fellowship and residencies at the EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop in NYC, the Vermont Studio Center and Trestle Art Space.

Khalif’s Collections of works can be viewed HERE