THE ART OF TURTEL ONLI

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

"Danse du Melons" Circa 2024: Oils & Acrylics on three 48" X 24" repurposed industrial panels.

Part of the growing "Passion Fruit" collection. Onli started hi "Passion Fruit" watermelon themed body of Rhythmistic: Future-Primitif visual art to shift the negative demeaning stereotyping of Black Americans in association to the watermelon and its origin in Africa. In this bold effort he established the watermelon as the logo of B.A.G.: The Black Art Guild. That started in 1970, now he has morphed the iconic body of artworks into much more.

Curator Dan Nadel during his visit to Onli's unique "Rhythmistic Residency".

Curator Nadel later stated, "As you know, I love Turtel’s work and appreciate his place in the history."

Museums and major galleries and centers of art will appreciate that Prof. Onli has a proven growing solo exhibition of watermelon inspired Rhythmistic works of art called "Passion Fruit". It explores the travels of the health-giving watermelon in various Future-Primitif contexts. From its dreadful distortion as a negative stereotype to becoming a powerful agent of cultural pride and healthy choices. Enigmatic yet wonderfully attractive.

Miami Art Week Link:

Excerpts from Onli's critically acclaimed "Passion Fruit" Collection

at the African American Art Expo, Chicago.

The exclusive exhibition record of Prof. Onli's Rhythmistic practice includes selected universities and elite art centers.

Onli with a smart art collector of his Rhythmistic Fine Art at the African American Art Expo.

Curator Dan Nadel visited Onli during his "Rhythmistic Residency" at the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, 2020. Nadel is currently the Curator At Large for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

He is in front of two of four impressive Rhythmistic Kokopellis created by Onli on archival natural unstretched fabric. Each represents an art form. Visual Art, Performing Art, Musical Arts & Literature.

Curator Zakkiyyah Najeebah Dumas-O'Neal 's reaction during her visit to the "Rhythmistic Residency"!

An art enthusiast's meditative appreciation of Onli's Rhythmistic Artwork in the Musuem of Contemporary Art, Chicago's blockbuster group exhibition called "CHICAGO COMICS 1960 Until Now", curated by Dan Nadel. She is also along-time private collector of Onli's Rhythmistic artworks.