Victory In The Valley of Eshu

The Black Arts movement initiated a radical shift from the predominantly White mainstream art world, allowing Black artists to create their own institutions and metrics for what was considered art. The movement introduced a visual language that emphasized Black cultural history and celebrated Afrocentric imagery. Jeff Donaldson, cofounder of the artists’ collective AfriCOBRA and contributor to the mural the Wall of Respect in Chicago, used color and shape to represent Black subjects dynamically. His piece Victory in the Valley of Eshu speaks to the Black Art movement’s experimental nature.