Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Exhibitionists

Finding strength in vulnerability: How these artists are celebrating black men through portraits

One day, artist Oluseye looked at his studio wall — postered with photos to inspire his paintings — and realized that it had become a beautiful mural of black men.

'You can look in everyone's eyes and know there's a story'

Mercedes Grundy · CBC Arts ·

Welcome to 'A Room Full of Black Boys'

6 years ago
Duration 3:53
"I wanted to do this as a way to give black men in this city a sense of being, a sense of belonging and a sense of knowing that they're valued" - Toronto-based artist Oluseye

One day, Toronto-based artist Oluseye looked at his studio wall — postered with photos of faces to inspire his paintings — and realized that it had become a beautiful mural of black men. He wanted to fill a room with these faces. He wanted to show black men's vulnerability and the diversity of their spirits.

Oluseye with his Room Full of Black Boys. (CBC Arts)

This is how A Room Full of Black Boys, his collaboration with photographer Jah Grey, was born. Oluseye and Grey spent two weeks photographing over 300 black men across Toronto, then postered their faces on a wall with Oluseye's signature pastel, chalk and acrylic work on top.

I wanted to do this as a way to give black men in this city a sense of being, a sense of belonging and a sense of knowing that they're valued.- Oluseye

In this video, we see Oluseye installing the exhibition at Toronto's Blank Canvas Gallery as he tells us about why this installation was so important for him to create.

Watch Exhibitionists Sundays at 4:30pm (5 NT) on CBC.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mercedes Grundy

Mercedes Grundy has been producing videos for CBC Arts and Exhibitionists since 2015. She is a unabashed Leonardo DiCaprio enthusiast with an educational background in photography, and produces film and theatre when not busy here at the CBC. And while her love for the arts does not discriminate, she openly acknowledges she is a horrible dancer.

    Related Stories

    Comments

    To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

    By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

    Become a CBC Member

    Join the conversation  Create account

    Already have an account?

    now