African American Artists Collective

Dialogue brings together the mixed media works of Stasi Bobo-Ligon and Joseph A. Newton in a celebration of Black identity.

Building on this theme, Bobo-Ligon combines painting with collage and assemblage to create emotionally rich textures. Her creations, she says, are often an “emotional reaction or response to a moment,” reflecting her own experience as an African American woman in contemporary life.

Newton fuses acrylic painting with digital techniques, layering mixed media to portray Black icons from both past and present. These figures interact visually, drawing viewers into stories that span generations.

Together, both artists represent facets of an expansive and diverse network of artists and arts professionals across multiple disciplines, known as the African American Artists Collective, based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2014, the collective advocates for artists, fosters networks, offers mentorship, and curates exhibitions and performances.