Portrait of Black Madonna 1987

Benny Andrews made this painting of a Black Madonna using a palette of earthy hues and bold, graphic shapes. There's something so tender about the way Andrews uses color, it's like he's building a world with each brushstroke. Look at the way the red of her shawl bleeds into the white, creating this soft, hazy effect. The flowers feel alive, even though they're painted with such simple shapes and lines. I love the mark making in the jar. There are browns, whites and greys with thick strokes, that build up the image of the jar. Andrews seems to be using the paint to suggest a material. This piece reminds me of Bob Thompson, who also had this incredible ability to infuse his paintings with both a sense of reverence and a raw, untamed energy. Ultimately, Andrews' painting invites us to contemplate the many layers of identity, memory, and meaning that make up a life.