Created specifically for the Move The World exhibit, this latest body of work was meant to capture the kaleidoscope of beauty, strengths, hues, and facets of black women.
In contemplating the black woman, the artist was further inspired by the life and grace of Ms. Cicely Tyson, whose passing occurred while the works were in progress. As a teenager, BAI loved watching her movies and admired her unfailing dignity and excellence. He hopes these paintings have captured all those elements.
Carl Karni-Bain, known as BAI, is a New York City-based artist who was born in Blackstone, Virginia. He describes himself as having been “born with the gift to draw” and sold his first work of art in 5th grade. He went on to study at the California College of Arts & Crafts in Oakland, CA, and has been inspired by the Renaissance Period and Fauvism. BAI’s art has been exhibited at galleries and cultural institutions throughout New York, North Carolina, and California, and can be found in the permanent collections of the Harrison Museum of African Museum of African American Culture, University of North Carolina, Kaiser Permanente, and private collectors. BAI has lived and created throughout the U.S., and in Western Europe, Panama, and Korea.