A tribute to the Black Panther Party by Henry Taylor 1 Favorite
Henry Taylor (born 1958) is an American artist and painter who lives and works in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his experimental figurative paintings and exploration of contemporary and relevant historical social issues. Taylor rewrites art history, often with art historical references, to amplify Black people who have been overlooked or undermined by the canon and systems of power and control.
The installation in the picture is one of the works of Henry Taylor, who created it as an homage to the Black Panther Party and his brother Landy, who was active in the Party’s branch in Ventura, CA. Each of the mannequins in this installation is wearing a leather jacket and beret, as typically worn by Panthers, alongside photos of people recently killed by police. The representational figures stand in front of a massive banner on the wall, imploring us to “END WAR AND STOP RACISM!!!” and to “Support the Black Panthers.” Featuring contemporary clothing, such as Colin Kaepernick’s San Francisco 49ers jersey, Taylor demonstrates how the fight for equality and peace continues.