Black Romantic and direct sales art in the Black community

August 7, 2021 4:00 PM

Image Conscious: Jasmine Sanders on the Black Romantic “My cousin worked for Artistic Impressions,” she says. “I saw a painting she had and liked it, so that’s how I got started.” The painting, titled The Lord’s Blessing, is a textured oil-on-canvas by the American artist Mobassi. A mother and infant appear in profile, both a deep, sumptuous brown, their features faintly drawn. The pair are conjoined by a crescent of glitter, gold, and cream paint, the maternal bond made tactile and flashily literal. The first piece of art my aunt ever purchased for herself, Mobassi’s canvas hangs in her living room still.
posted by klangklangston (3 comments total)

My first job when I moved to the Chicago area was as a temp receptionist at Artistic Impressions' corporate office. This would have been late 99 through mid-2000. The company seemed to be doing pretty well at the time.

A few Christmases ago, the former CEO of Artistic Impressions was spotted at a craft show in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Not so much these days.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 5:01 PM on August 7, 2021 [4 favorites]

Thank you for posting this, what an interesting read. I'm fascinated by the dichotomy between "fine" art and popular/mass art (your Kinkades, your Vettrianos) and this is a great exploration of how that intersects with Black upward mobility and popular culture.
posted by cpatterson at 11:48 PM on August 7, 2021 [1 favorite]

It was worth a read if only to get names and context for the painting featured in the opening of Good Times, and the one in that Cosby show episode (which I just can't watch again).

I was disappointed the writer wasn't able to wrap up the history of the direct sales companies...the article feels unfinished.
posted by emjaybee at 9:25 AM on August 8, 2021