During Black History Month, Grady High School in Atlanta, GA, is collaborating with a local Trader Joe’s to celebrate black science fiction and fantasy authors. Michael T. Powell is the Head Artist and Art Director of this project, which is working to build a network of artists throughout the city. Alongside the usual array of colorful art in Trader Joe’s will hang portraits of authors such as Samuel R. Delany, Nnedi Okorafor, and N.K. Jemisin, with short biographies contextualizing their works.
Okorafor shared her portrait (above) on her Facebook after DarkStarr—a local Afrofuturism arts and speculative fiction collective—stumbled across the art installation. You can see more photos on their Tumblr.
Aside from honoring the authors, the portraits are also just lovely, with an otherworldly look that fits the SFF works they’re highlighting:
My name is Lorèn Anthony and I run the DarkStarrATL social media.
Ms. Zutter’s latest article on Trader Joe’s and our science fiction piece was very impressive I appreciate the expsosure.
However, I would like to request an edit.
Please remove DarkStarr from the headline
All the credit goes to Michael T. Powell Head Artist and Art Director of this project please credit him. DarkStarr just promoted it and provided information for the store to use for their project. Our main mission is to network with and promote artists.
Thank you again and stay tuned!
This is awesome! I wish my local Trader Joe’s would do the same.
This is my local Trader Joe’s! I will have to get over there to take a look!