American artist Arthur Jafa thinks through images. As an artist and filmmaker, he collects and produces images, both still and moving, connecting the dots that make up American culture and how a Black aesthetic operates within contemporary discourse. According to Jafa, he aims to create work with “the power, beauty, and alienation of Black music.” Jafa began his career as a cinematographer and has directed music videos for many of the most influential Black artists of our time, including Solange and Jay-Z. His Black-centric vision and impact is felt across mainstream popular culture and art world events like the Venice Biennale.

–Yuri Stone, from the Glenstone Field Guide