Woman with a Bull, 2023 by contemporary African American artist Bai (Carl Karni-Bain), is a 30 x 22in acrylic, oil pastel, and ballpoint pen figurative painting on etching paper. The work is signed by the artist on recto (front), titled, dated, signed on verso (back). Ships unframed.
The painting on paper embraces a dusky desert evening, the subject in which is a tall woman with full red lips and brown hair. She stands regally, dressed in a long navy-blue dress, cradling in her long arms, a majestic bull, reminiscent of one of Picasso’s animal figures with its prominent ribs communicating strength and vulnerability. The woman, appears as a savior figure of blended ethnicity, both brown and white, a mysterious presence as she holds and supports the bull in her arms. Pale daisies grow at their feet in the desert sand, while in the background vibrant red succulent flowers bloom, resilient and tenacious in the face of unknown challenges.
In the artist's words:
"Colour becomes symbols I use to reflect emotional stages that humans experience – reds for the violent past, blues, greens for the peace to come, and yellow and oranges for the bright future ahead. The latter is not guaranteed in my paintings. However, I think it is attainable in life." ~Carl Karni-Bain (BAI), Harlem, New York City
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Artist's Bio:
For three decades BAI (Carl Karni-Bain) 1959- has exhibited regularly in the San Francisco Bay Area, North Carolina, and New York City. As an artist in over two dozen international art fairs since 2003, BAI has garnered an audience worldwide. In 2013 Thelma Golden, Director of The Studio Museum of Harlem selected BAI as one of the top 10 artists working in Harlem, New York City. He was also selected as one of the top 50 artists living in Manhattan.
In 2022 Bai’s work was selected and sold at a Christie’s auction 100 Years of Harlem: Resonating Around The World.
Bai's work is in private and public collections, including the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC, The Harrison Museum of African American Culture, Roanoke, VA, among others.
Carl Karni-Bain's work has been included in numerous international art fairs including Miami, London, New York City, Hong Kong, and San Diego.
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