Sylvia Parker Maier is an innovative artist whose work has been featured on the Empire TV show. Jamal and Yazz declared that it “Ain’t About the Money” and Maier is sending a similar message through her “Currency” series.
Yeelen Gallery
294 NW 54th Street
Little Haiti, Miami 33127
954-235-4758
“Currency” provokes a debate about individual value and our sense of self worth. Maier has added a twist to the series. The coins show mothers who have lost their kids to police brutality:
“Currency” features numerous mothers of black men who have been killed by police including Kadiatou Diallo, mother of Amadou Diallo. Amadou’s priceless life was taken on February 4, 1999. Four New York City police officers fired a total of 41 shots, 19 striking Diallo, who was outside of his apartment located in the Soundview section of The Bronx.
The officers were charged with second-degree murder yet acquitted at trial. Diallo was unarmed. In 2003, the block where Amadou was killed was renamed Amadou Diallo Place to honor the 22-year old on the fourth anniversary of his death.
This article will examine some of the amazing African American paintings that have been featured on the Empire TV show. The masterpieces of numerous famous black artists have appeared on Fox’s hip-hop drama along with some amazing pieces by artists that are not black.
African American artwork became popular during the Harlem Renaissance. Many famous black painters were encouraged to celebrate their heritage by using their creativity.
Empire Fox Art
The work of famous black painters like Mickalene Thomas and Kehinde Wiley give viewers yet another reason to love Empire! Along with the amazing pieces by famous black artists we will provide artwork by painters who are not black along with some historical pieces that have appeared on the show.
Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley is a famous hip-hop portrait artist known for his amazing pieces that typically feature blacks in heroic poses. His “Prince Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria” painting hangs on Lucious’ dining room wall. Wiley’s “Le Roi a La Chasse” “Naomi and Her Daughters” “Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha” and “Officer of the Hussars” pieces are also featured on the show.
Kehinde Wiley Empire Prince Albert Prince Consort of Queen Victoria
Kehinde Wiley Empire Le Roi a La Chasse
Kehinde Wiley Empire Naomi and Her Daughters
Kehinde Wiley Empire Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Kehinde Wiley Empire Officer of the Hussars
Ponti Lambros
Ponti Lambros, of Art Rebel, delivered the following paintings that many have credited as Jean-Michel Basquiat pieces. The amazing painter has sold pieces to numerous celebrities including Sean Penn and Paris Hilton.
Ponti Lambros Empire Citadel
Ponti Lambros Empire Kingdom
Lobyn Hamilton Lobyn Hamilton is a talented artist who used vinyl records in his amazing masterpieces. His “Final Art” piece is featured on Empire.
Lobyn Hamilton Empire Final Art
Jamea Richmond-Edwards
Jamea Richmond-Edwards is an amazing artist with a repertoire of beautiful ink and graphite portraits. Her “Wings Not Meant to Fly” piece was featured on the Empire TV show.
Jamean Richmond-Edwards Empire Wings Not Meant to Fly
Mickalene Thomas
Mickalene Thomas is a contemporary African American artist that creates beautiful paintings that often feature rhinestones, acrylic and enamel. Thomas’ ‘Le Déjeuner Sur L’Herbe: Trois Noir Femmes’ piece was featured on Empire’s first episode.
Mickalene Thomas Empire Le Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe: Trois Noir Femmes
Michael Savoie
Michael Savoie is a very talented photographer and painter. Savoie’s amazing piece, “Natural” appears on the Empire TV show.
Michael Savoie Empire Natural
Toyin Odutola
Toyin Odutola is a Nigerian-born contemporary artist that is very talented. Her “Hold It In Your Mouth A Little Longer” piece appeared on Empire.
Toyin Odutola Empire Hold It In Your Mouth A Little Longer
Claude Monet
Claude Monet was a French painter whose work introduced the Impressionist movement. His “House of Parliament” piece appears on Empire.
Claude Monet Empire House of Parliament
Ebony G. Patterson Ebony G. Patterson is an amazing artist that was born in Jamaica. She creates wonderful artwork that focuses on sexuality and identity. One of Patterson’s best pieces, “Untitled VI” hangs in Jamal Lyon’s kitchen.
Ebony Patterson Empire Untitled VI
Sylvia Maier
Sylvia Maier is a recipient of the Greenshield Award and numerous merit scholarships. “Peter” from her “Currency” collection was featured on Empire.
Sylvia Maier Empire Peter
Barkley L. Hendricks Barkley L. Hendricks is an amazing painting responsible for pioneering contributions to black portraiture and conceptualism. His “Lawdy Mama” piece appears on the Empire TV show.
Barkley L. Hendricks Empire Lawdy Mama
Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh is considered one of the greatest Dutch painters of all time. His “Skull With A Burning Cigarette” piece was featured on Empire.
Vincent van Gogh Empire Skull With A Burning Cigarette
Georges Seurat Georges Seurat was a French painter known as the pioneer of Pointillism. His “Can-Can (La Chahut)” painting appeared on the first season of Empire.
Georges Seurat Empire Can-Can La Chahut
Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt was an Australian artist known as a prominent member of the Vienna Secession movement. Klimt’s “Medicine (Hygieia)” painting is hanging on Lucious’ wall in the show’s first season and Cookie calls it ugly.
Gustav Klimt Empire Medicine Hygieia
Which painting is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!
March seems so far away, doesn’t it? But alas, that’s when we can expect the next new episode of Fox’s Empire and it’s been a hard hiatus for fans. There’s not as much music in our lives. We’re missing the Cookie one-liners, the Hakeem tantrums, and, heck. we’re even missing Thirsty Rawlings being his ol’ quirky self with his gadgets.
So to ease that withdrawal, let’s check out what the cast has been up to via social media.
Mariah Carey’s engagement ring will most likely symbolize a lifetime of love and commitment considering the fact that it is platinum with a 35-carat diamond!
Mariah Carey Engagement Ring
Money can’t buy happiness when you don’t know where to go shopping and Mimi’s billionaire boyfriend clearly doesn’t have that problem.
MC’s new hubby proposed at New York’s exclusive restaurant, Eleven Madison Park, with some of the couple’s closest friends in attendance. The ring designed by Mimi’s BFF Wilfredo Rosado and has an estimated net worth of $7.5 million.
Mariah Carey Engagement Ring
James Packer and Mariah Carey
So Mr. Mimi is Australian billionaire, James Douglas Packer. James Packer and Mariah Carey started dating last summer after meeting at a movie premiere in Aspen.
James is currently 48 and he is the fourth richest person in Australia. The billionaire has been married twice and was engaged to actress Kate Fischer for two-years yet the former couple decide not to get married.
Carey is 45 and has also been married twice. She was married to Sony Music head Tommy Mottola for four years before the two decided to split. Mimi has two children with her former husband Nick Cannon.
James Packer and Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey Net Worth
Mariah Carey’s net worth is $500 million. She is the best selling female artist in the history of the Billboard charts. The award-winning singer has an insurance policy that covers her legs, worth $1 billion.
James Packer Net Worth James Packer’s net worth is currently $4.5 billion. James’ father, Kerry Packer, was an Australian media tycoon. The Packer family owned one of the most successful television networks as well as one of the leading publishing companies in Australia.
Mariah Carey on Empire
Last year Lee Daniels explained that him and Mariah were negotiating about the role she will play on Empire. While Daniels wants her to play herself, Mariah would rather not play herself so Daniels must create a compelling role that she agrees to before she makes her appearance.
