Cultural Canvases: Black Men Reshaping Fine Art and Creative Spaces presented by ArtAboveReality — the podcast that dives deep into the vibrant world of contemporary art, design, and digital creativity through the lenses of Black male professionals. Join me, Badir McCleary, your host, and curator, as we venture on a journey through the fascinating narratives and insightful perspectives of these groundbreaking artists and visionaries. In each episode, we'll unravel the threads of their unique journeys, exploring the challenges they've overcome, the triumphs that define their artistic narratives, and the goals that keep them putting in overtime in their studios and boardrooms. From gallery walls to global stages, we'll celebrate these diverse talents that are redefining the face of creativity.
But that's not all. "Cultural Canvases" goes beyond the canvas, delving into the broader ecosystem. Tune in for engaging discussions on current events impacting the creative space, market trends, and the rich historical context that shapes contemporary expression. Get ready for thought-provoking dialogues, candid revelations, and a front-row seat to the dynamic intersection of culture, ideation, and the ever-evolving canvas of innovation on Cultural Canvases.
In Episode One, I sit down with Des Moines, Iowa based artist B. Robert Moore. Multidisciplinary self-taught artist started painting in 2018-19 to counter drug addiction and alcoholism. As a tool to counter mental health issues and life trauma, Moore paints figurative works amongst other contemporary works that all are inner connected through Moore’s identity and experience as a Black man in America.
Growing up in Iowa, a predominantly White-conservative state has inspired Moore to uplift narratives and images of people from his community and abroad who identify through similar life identity and experiences. Storytelling is the backbone of Moore’s work, as the composition of the visual only aides the hours of research and layered symbolism throughout each individual work.
