Kofi Bailey

Herman “Kofi” Bailey (American, 1931-1981)

Believing his art should uplift and encourage his community, University of Southern California graduate Herman “Kofi” (or “Kofi X”) Bailey produced drawings, lithographs, and paintings that reflected Pan-African themes. Bailey’s involvement with leaders in both national and international African political life, including W. E. B. Du Bois, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Kwame Nkrumah, inspired his socially conscious works of art featuring bold lines to depict the rich culture of African Americans.

Important Source Material:

Lewis, Samella. African American Art and Artists. Berkeley: University of California Press. 1990.

Riggs, Thomas, ed. St. James Guide to Black Artists. Detroit: St. James Press. 1997.

TAL