Che Baraka (born 1953) is an American mixed media artist whose conceptional and abstract paintings have been exhibited across the United States.[1] Baraka was born in Chicago, Illinois. His work has been included in numerous exhibitions and collections throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[2]
Baraka moved to Jackson, Mississippi, when he was six. He later lived in San Antonio, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana.[3] In Mississippi, Baraka "was exposed to the profound beginnings of America's Civil rights movement that in Birmingham Alabama with the young Baptist minister, Martin Luther King."[3] Exeter Academy showed interest in the young artist and sent a scholar to recruit him.[3]
His spiritual guide and first mentor was a young civil rights activist, Jesse Morris. Thanks to him, Baraka developed his creativity and expanded his views of the world.[4]
Baraka attended the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, New York, graduating with honors and a BFA. He received an MFA in Arts Administration at New York University.[3]
My work is your inspiration and your inspiration is my work.[5]