Che Baraka (born 1953) is an American mixed media artist whose conceptional and abstract paintings have been exhibited across the United States. [1] Baraka was born in Chicago, Illinois. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions and collections throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. [2]
Baraka moved to Jackson, Mississippi, when he was six. He later lived in San Antonio, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana. [3] In Mississippi, Baraka "was exposed to the profound beginnings of America's Civil rights movement that had began [ sic] in Birmingham Alabama with the young Baptist minister, Martin Luther King." [3] Exeter Academy showed interest in the young artist and sent a scholar to recruit him. [3]
His spiritual guide and first mentor was a young civil rights activist, Jesse Morris. Thanks to him, Baraka developed his creativity and expanded his views of the world. [4]
Baraka attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, New York, graduating with honors and a BFA. [2] [3] He received an MFA in Arts Administration at New York University. [3]
My work is your inspiration and your inspiration is my work. [5]