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BLACK BOY JOY ART EXHIBITION EQUAL MINDED CAFÉ, OCTOBER 1-30, 2024
The Black Boy Joy Art Exhibition features original creative expressions of Black boy joy from Black men and boys based in Missouri & Kansas. It was created to disrupt the narrative that tells Black men and boys to suppress their joy or mold it to fit the expectations of others. It aims to provide space for them to unapologetically express themselves and take pride in being Black in ways that feel authentic to them.
MEET THE ARTISTS
CANVAS GILMORE, Community, 2024, digital drawing
The people in my community help me when I don’t always have the answer. They help me to get back up when I fall, so that I can stand taller than before. If they need it I can help them too. Everybody matters and it makes me happy to come together and do good things for our community.
Canvas was born and currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a third grade student and plans to in the future study computer science. Canvas enjoys creatively expressing himself through music and movement, martial arts, poetry, and drawing. His poetry has been featured in his school’s poetry magazine and his artwork was selected in Johnson County Public Library’s 2023 All Together Now Summer Sticker Design Contest.
DEVIN EDWARDS, We left our shells to reach new heights, 2024, acrylic on canvas
I believe this piece embodies Black boy joy by showing the lust for adventure and new things to see and understand. In my childhood that was one of the things that led me into art, which has given me so much joy ever since.
My name is Devin Edwards, I’m from Kansas City, MO. I went to Paseo High School and then the Kansas City Art institute. I’ve been painting for twenty years.
KENNEY ELLISON, The Offering, 2021, photography
The Offering by Kenney Ellison of 3 Shots Photography captures a poignant moment at the George Floyd Memorial, where a young man was extended a dollar bill, not as a financial gesture, but as a symbolic peace offering. The image juxtaposes the weight of the memorial’s significance with the simplicity of a human connection, reflecting the shared desire for healing in the face of injustice. The young man’s expression, framed within the context of the memorial, evokes a sense of contemplation, while the offering of the dollar transforms into a powerful metaphor for unity, understanding, and reconciliation. Ellison’s ability to capture raw, candid moments in such a charged environment speaks to his keen eye for emotion and storytelling through photography, making The Offering a timeless and thought-provoking work.
Kenney Ellison, the visionary behind 3 Shots Photography, is a talented Black male photographer known for his ability to capture authentic, impactful moments that tell a deeper story. With a motto of “Create, Move, and Explore,” Kenney pushes the boundaries of traditional photography, always seeking new perspectives and narratives. His work embodies creativity, whether in the serene portraits of individuals or the powerful documentation of historical spaces like the George Floyd Memorial. The “Move” in his philosophy reflects his dynamic approach, always evolving and in motion to stay attuned to the world’s rhythms. As an explorer, Kenney ventures beyond surface-level images to uncover the heart of a scene, connecting with the people and places he photographs in profound ways. His commitment to artistry and authenticity, combined with his cultural awareness, makes Kenney Ellison a standout in the photography world, capturing the essence of life’s most meaningful moments.
LIAM JÄGER, If It’s Not There - He Sleeps, 2021, photograph
The series If It’s Not There is an ongoing self-portrait exercise documenting the relationship a man has with himself. The joy of this series, for me, isn’t necessarily in the work but rather in the creation process itself. I started making these images at a time when commissions were the majority of my production and I didn’t have time to create art for the sake of creating art. These images are produced spontaneously when I have a moment to myself to just appreciate that fact that I can make art simply because it brings me joy.
Liam Jäger, born in Hollywood, CA, is an award-winning photographer, photojournalist, writer and filmmaker based out of Los Angeles, CA and Berlin. A multi-disciplinary artist, Liam works with portraiture and self-portraiture in painting and film based photography as well as video art. He travels the globe, photographing people he meets along that way. Since his first job as a bag boy in Southeast Texas, Liam has worked as a vegan baker, camera operator, burrito maker, background actor, PATRIOT Missile operator, sign spinner, grip, short order cook and a juicer at Muscle Beach among other professions.
MELO, No longer need your flowers, i can grow my own., 2023, acrylic paint
My piece is a representation of when you notice your own growth and appreciate your own path, no longer needing validation from outside opinions and criticism.
Artist born and raised from Saint Paul, MN. I like to paint portraits that have a story to them by using vibrant color skin and plays on perspectives.
MOE, Rick&Morty Customs, 2023, acrylic leather paint
The vibrant colors of Rick and Morty custom shoes reflect the creativity and expertise of black artists, infusing life into each pair.
A young entrepreneur from Kansas City, trying to make his way out of here. Joyful and really bright. Self-made person.
TEEEJAY, Surrounded by Green, 2024, Photography
Middle of the week on a sunny afternoon, no one he needs to worry about other than himself and his fishing pole.
No need for validation or to put on a face to appeal to others or make them feel safe. He can just enjoy the environment while he patiently waits for nature to interact with him and his fishing pole.
Out in a clean off-white fit with his sun bathed locs, staying clean even if he gets dirty.
He represents Black boy joy because of how free he is. Free to fish at the most beautiful time of day. Free to be alone, to be alone with his thoughts, and exist without interruption or input. To fish without being corrected.
I’m Tatum Greule; I’m a student currently attending Topeka High in my junior year. I took up photography almost a year ago and along with working for my school’s newspaper, I learned how much I enjoy photography. I enjoy creating those bonds between our athletes while I’m out taking photos of their games. I enjoy seeing the beauty I can really bring out of people when I’m taking photos of them, as well as the story telling behind it. I enjoy taking landscape photos, watching how places change from the fall to the summer. How dead and brown things start out, then how green and lively they become later. I enjoy taking pictures of the structures, the ruined and crumbling buildings downtown. The lighting between the giant buildings, and the views of the parking garages.
THE TIME TRAVELER, The Best Way to Travel, 2022, print of micro pen and brush pen on illustration board and digital painting
The Best Way to Travel is a part of an illustrative series entitled “Time Travelers Fieldnotes” exploring Afrofuturists themes and motifs. Often times I find that the story of black boys starts from the perspective of trauma and negativity. It hurts to think that even in one’s imagination, Black boys’ existence is confined to the limited perspective of others. The Time Traveler exists without limitations in thought, perspective, aspirations, or imagination; capturing the essence of Black boy joy by being free of constraints anyone tries to place on him. The piece also is a nod to my pet potbelly pig, a pet parent relationship that not many expect but come to marvel at and appreciate.
Kansas City based illustrator and designer, James Spikes has spent the past 6 years establishing his signature illustrative style and multifaceted design background. He uses his background in anatomy and biomechanics to inform the shape and form of his illustration work. In his early years, he spent most of his life in the southern states of Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, which influenced his affinity for hip hop culture and African-American history. His distinctive illustrative style is showcased in his Time Travelers series, a collection of Afrofuturistic artworks exploring life’s virtues as well as African-American history and culture.
INTERESTED IN PURCHASING THE ART?
REACH OUT TO ME AND I'LL COORDINATE WITH THE ARTIST(S) ON YOUR BEHALF.
BLACK BOY JOY YOGA
Black Boy Joy Yoga centers and celebrates Black men and boys as they practice mindfulness and prioritize wellness. During Summer 2023, and 2024, yoga instructor Joshua Davis led beginner-friendly outdoor yoga sessions at KC favorites including Union Station, Operation Breakthrough, Vine Street Brewing and Ruby Jean's Juicery. Davis utilizes breath work, meditation, grounding poses, and guided commentary about claiming joy to create the ideal environment for community healing.
Though open to all, Black Boy Joy Yoga exists to provide a safe space for Black men and boys with the support of friends, family and allies. This open-community concept further reinforces the idea that we get free together, and allows us to practice that freedom in real time.
Beloved activist and writer bell hooks said, “I am often struck by the dangerous narcissism fostered by spiritual rhetoric that pays so much attention to individual self-improvement and so little to the practice of love within the context of community.”
Black Boy Joy allows our community to rally beside Black men and boys to create a spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally uplifting experience for all.
Stay tuned for Black Boy Joy Yoga 2025!
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HISTORY OF 'BLACK BOY JOY'
I responded to Kansas City-based organization, Art in the Loop's call for artists for their annual installation of public art along the streetcar route. The theme was 'Celebrate,' and I chose to create a piece celebrating Black Boy Joy. I was selected to be 1 of 8 artists for Art in the Loop 2023, and my piece was on display at the Union Station streetcar stop from June to November 2023.
I created ‘Black Boy Joy’ to celebrate Black men and boys unapologetically expressing themselves in ways that promote their happiness. The graphic features a Black man playing with a young Black boy. The man could be a father, big brother, or even a mentor to the boy. As they interact, the man shows the boy that it’s okay to express his joy out loud.
As a result of the streetcar stop project, Black Boy Joy Yoga was born, and I partnered with yoga instructor Joshua Davis to lead 4 beginner-friendly outdoor sessions at Union Station throughout the summer of 2023. My goal was to provide a safe space for Black men and boys to claim joy with the support of friends, family and allies.
In the spring of 2024, I was selected as a recipient of ArtsKC's Inspiration Grant, which funded the return of Black Boy Joy Yoga, with the addition of the Black Boy Joy Art Exhibition. Hosted at Equal Minded Café, my intention with the exhibition was to make art accessible for the Black community by celebrating in showcasing in a Black-owned restaurant within a historically Black neighborhood.
The term ‘Black Boy Joy’ has been uplifted in the Black community throughout the past several years. It encourages Black boys and men to embrace their positive emotions and take pride in being Black in ways that feel authentic to them. In America, Black boys and men are often expected to prioritize what society deems as masculine, and refrain from exploring traits that are stereotypically feminine. ‘Black Boy Joy’ disrupts the narrative that tells Black men to suppress their joy.
Black boys and men deserve to live out loud and live in color. I believe in the longevity of Black boys and men, and I believe that longevity starts with celebrating joy. This world doesn’t always make space for Black joy, but we don’t have to wait for permission to take up space. And we shouldn’t.
Learn more about Art in the Loop here.