Gerald Williams USA, b. 1941

This vibrant, pointillist painting by AfriCOBRA founding member Gerald Williams combines text, color, and abstract pattern to explore Black identity, mythology, and reality. Begun before and completed after his time living in Africa, the work bridges diasporic and ancestral influences. Utilizing a traditional African mask motif, the central face emerges through cosmic fields of color, posing a powerful philosophical question: “If you are not a myth, then whose reality are you?” This piece reflects Williams’ commitment to spiritual depth, cultural affirmation, and AfriCOBRA’s vision of a vibrant Black aesthetic.