Abdoulaye Conde is an artist in many ways: a painter, a musician, and a muralist. Originally from the West African country Guinea, Conde moved to Chicago in December of 2022, leaving an artistic legacy in his hometown. Currently, he lives in Rogers Park while spending lots of time in Evanston because of its “welcoming feel,” as Conde put it. He has won multiple awards around the world and was presented the opportunity to embellish a statue for the German Embassy, as well as winning the ArtPrize, a competition in Grand Rapids, Michigan for his mural, “Raining Wisdom”.
“My initial inspiration to create art was the colors and textures of nature in my home country Guinea. When I was young, I would draw anywhere I could, with anything, like even with a stick in the mud after rainfall. As I grew older, my experience with diversity also inspired my unique style of art, called Gnabassan. This means we can celebrate our differences and our similarities too,” Conde remarked.
His paintings are very abstract and include many shapes and colors within the layers. Conde is also interested in music, and plays multiple instruments like the guitar, kora, and djembe. Through his music he hopes to explore “themes of hope, resilience, transformation, and harmony.” Some of his work is on display at the Evanston Art Center until September 21st. Admission is free, so hurry now to see the beautiful and complicated works of Abdoulaye Conde.
Dr. Kamasi Hill has been an artist and collector since 2006. Hill has been an educator for about 19 years and is currently teaching African American Studies and AP European History at ETHS. He grew up surrounded by his parents’ collection of Black and African art, listening as they shared the stories behind each piece. Because of this, he felt inspired to start seriously collecting art, stating, “300 pieces later, here I am.”
Alongside collecting, Hill also creates art of his own. An award-winning film he made called “Born In the Struggle” tells the stories of Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, through the eyes of their children. “The whole movie is about growing up in a household where your parents were out in the streets fighting for justice. And you were just a kid trying to learn how to ride a skateboard,” Hill remarks. He thinks art is personal, and ethnic ties to it are a part of many artistic stories. His esteemed film will be available to watch on his website in the fall of this year. Be sure to check out his new movie.
