THE GRAPHIC QUILT DESIGNS of Gee’s Bend artists inspired a new line of upholstered furniture available exclusively from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Studio Museum in Harlem recently added new items to its Barkley L. Hendricks Collection. Interior designer Sheila Bridges continues to expand the line of products featuring her clever Harlem Toile de Jouy print.
From stationery and home goods to clothing and accessories, African American artists have inspired a bounty of new products, great finds for anyone happy to have more art in their life. The selections reflect an array of new and recent museum exhibitions dedicated to Black artists such as Hendricks, Dawoud Bey, Faith Ringgold, Spike Lee, Whitfield Lovell, Wangechi Mutu, Gary Simmons, Henry Taylor, Grace Wales Bonner, and Benjamin Wigfall. The products also highlight treasured artworks by Jacob Lawrence, Horace Pippin, and Romare Bearden, among others, represented in the permanent collections of major museums.
Purchases made from museum stores benefit the institutions and sales of the growing collection of design objects available from the Kehinde Wiley Shop benefit the artist’s Black Rock Senegal artist-in-residence program in Accra. Culture Type’s 2023 holiday guide highlights 50 artist-inspired gifts:
STATIONERY
The postcard set features a selection of portraits, including: Brenda P, George Jules Taylor, Slick, Misc. Tyrone (Tyrone Smith), APB’s (Afro-Parisian Brothers), Sisters (Susan and Toni), Blood (Donald Formey), Victory at 23, Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris, and Lawdy Mama
Barkley L. Hendricks Collection Postcard Set. | Studio Museum in Harlem’s Studio Store, $20.00
From the Studio Museum in Harlem’s Barkley L. Hendricks Collection, the postcard set is a real treasure featuring 10 fascinating 1960s and 70s-era portraits by Barkley L. Hendricks (1945-2017) in postcard format. Each postcard measures 5.8 x 8.3 inches.
The boxed set features two artworks: From left, BENJAMIN WIGFALL (American, 1930-2017), Detail of “Chimneys,” 1951 (oil on canvas). | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, General Endowment Fund. © Benjamin Wigfall; BENJAMIN WIGFALL (American, 1930-2017), Untitled (Christmas card design), 1958 (opaque watercolor on wove paper, 5 1/8 × 7 3/16 inches). | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the artist, 2007.27
Benjamin Wigfall Boxed Notecards | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, VMFA Shop, $19.99
The boxed notecards explore the work of Richmond, Va., native Benjamin Wigfall (1930-2017), as featured in the exhibition “Benjamin Wigfall and Communications Village” (June 17-Sept. 10, 2023), recently on view at the Virginia Museum of the Fine Arts in Richmond. Blank inside, each notecard is 5 1/4 x 4 inches. The box includes 12 cards (six each of two designs) and 13 envelopes.
The Kwanzaa cards feature one design, a screen print and woodcut artwork by Chakaia Booker. | © Chakaia Booker
Chakaia Booker: Boxed Kwanzaa Cards. | Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Store, $16
A celebration of African American culture, Kwanzaa is observed Dec. 26, 2023-Jan. 1, 2024, this year. Designed by artist Chakaia Booker, who is known for her tire sculptures and printmaking, the boxed set includes 8 cards and 8 envelopes (5 x 7 inches). The greeting inside reads: “Remember & Rejoice Happy Kwanzaa.”
The card designs are based on ROMARE BEARDEN (1911-1988), “The Block,” 1971 (cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite, 48 inches × 18 feet / 121.9 × 548.6 cm; Individual panel: 48 × 36 inches / 121.9 × 91.4 cm). | Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shore, 1978; Accession Number: 1978.61.1-.6. Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y.
Romare Bearden: The Block Boxed Notecards. | Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Store, $15
From the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, “The Block” (1971) by Romare Bearden (1911-1988) is a monumental depiction of Harlem’s unique streetscape. Bearden grew up in Harlem and would later establish a studio in the neighborhood. The collage painting is composed of seven panels and the cards feature detailed images from the work. The box includes 20 cards (2 each of 10 designs) with 21 envelopes, measuring 4 x 5 1/4 inches. (The cards are blank inside.)
The journal features, GARY SIMMONS, “Everforward…,” 1993 (lLeather, metallic gold thread, satin, and laces; Edition of 20, dimensions variable, approximately 26 × 16 × 5 inches / 66 × 40.6 × 12.7 cm) Overall. | Collection of the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Anonymous gift, 2001, 2001.156.1–.2. © Gary Simmons
Gary Simmons Journal: Everforward. | Pérez Art Museum Miami’s PAMM Shop, $32.95
The journal is produced on the occasion of “Gary Simmons: Public Enemy” (Dec. 5, 2023-April 28, 2024), the first comprehensive survey of the artist. The hardcover velvet laminate journal features an image of the sculpture “Everforward” by Gary Simmons on the cover, includes 100 blank pages, and measures 6 x 8 1/4 inches.
Cover features KEHINDE WILEY, Detail of “Sir Brooke Boothby,” 2013 (oil on canvas, 108 x 68 inches). | © Kehinde Wiley; Inside: KEHINDE WILEY, “Three Boys,” 2013 (oil on canvas, 92 x 92 inches). | © Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley Coloring Book. | Kehinde Wiley Shop, $15
Featuring portraits from Kehinde Wiley‘s The World Stage: Jamaica (2013) series, the 32-page coloring book includes 15 ready-to-color works. The suggested age is 12, but adults may also appreciate the opportunity to color masterworks by Wiley. Net proceeds benefit Wiley’s Black Rock Senegal artist-in-residence program in Accra.
The pocket pad cover features JACOB LAWRENCE (1917–2000), “Pool Parlor,” 1942 (watercolor and gouache on paper, 31 1/8 × 22 7/8 inches / 79.1 × 58.1 cm). | Arthur Hoppock Hearn Fund, 1942. Accession Number: 42.167. © 2023 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Jacob Lawrence: Pool Parlor Pocket Pad. | Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met Store, $8 (3 for $20)
“Pool Parlor” (1942), became the first artwork by Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) to enter the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1942, the same year the artist made the painting. The softcover, pocket notebook has 60 lines pages and measures 4 x 6 inches.
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
The Crooklyn t-shirt is part of the CROOKLYN CAPSULE collection by Spike Lee and designer Tré Seals.
Crooklyn Museum Eyes T-Shirt. | Brooklyn Museum Shop, $45
Legendary filmmaker Spike Lee grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is an unrivaled promoter of the borough in his life and work. “Spike Lee: Creative Sources,” an incredible exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum through Feb. 4, 2024, is paying homage to his many collections and expansive portfolio of work across platforms. The t-shirt is a collaboration between Lee and designer Tré Seals, who is known for his typeface creations. Commemorating the exhibition, the t-shirt’s logo replaces the Brooklyn Museum name with the moniker Lee gave Brooklyn and used for the title of one of his most beloved films, “Crooklyn” (1994). The back of the t-shirt features a Crooklyn eyes circle graphic.
The long-sleeve tee is one of several items produced by the museum on the occasion of the “Going Dark” exhibition.
Going Dark Long-Sleeve Tee. | Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Guggenheim Store, $45
The t-shirt is produced on the occasion of the group show “Going Dark: The Contemporary Figure at the Edge of Visibility.” Featuring many prominent artists, including Charles White, David Hammons, Faith Ringgold, Sandra Mujinga, John Edmonds, and Lorna Simpson, the exhibition is curated by Ashley James at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Designed with dark type on a black ground, the 100 percent cotton t-shirt embraces the theme of the exhibition, which is on view through April 7, 2024.
Zip pouch features FAITH RINGGOLD, “The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles: The French Collection, Part I, #4,” 1991 (acrylic on canvas, printed and tie-dyed pieced fabric, and ink, 74 x 80 inches / 188 x 203.2 cm). | Collection Oprah Winfrey. © Faith Ringgold / ARS, NY and DACS, London, Courtesy ACA Galleries, New York 2022
Faith Ringgold: The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles Zip Pouch. | Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, $25
Celebrating “Faith Ringgold: American People,” an expansive survey exhibition on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, through Feb. 25, 2024, the pouch features “The Sunflowers Quilting Bee at Arles: The French Collection Part I #4” (1991) by Faith Ringgold. Part of the artist’s French Collection series, the painted quilt pays homage to eight pioneering women: Madam C. J. Walker, Sojourner Truth, Ida Wells, Fannie Lou Hamer, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Ella Baker. The pouch is 100 percent cotton canvas and measures 9.5 x 9 inches. The pouch is available in two additional designs.
Bag features JEAN MICHEL-BASQUIAT (1960-1988), Untitled (Head), 1982. | The Mini Ova Bag is part of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure x Black Fashion Fair: Those Who Dress Better Collection © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat
Homage Year: Jean Michel Basquiat Edition Mini Ova Bag. | Brooklyn Museum Shop, $275
Homage Year was established in 2014 by young designer Antoine Manning, who hails from the Bronx, N.Y., and is currently based in Atlanta. According to the brand, “Manning has fueled the ethos of Homage Year primarily through the lens of their Ova Manifestation Bags.” Featuring Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s iconic skull motif, the 100 percent vegan leather Mini Ova bag measures 6.5 x 7 x 3 inches, with details including a 11 1/2-26 inch strap drop.
The tote features HORACE PIPPIN, “Supper Time,” circa 1940 (oil on burnt-wood panel, 12 x 15 1/8 inches / 30.5 x 38.4 cm); On reverse: HORACE PIPPIN, “Giving Thanks,” 1942 (oil on canvas, later mounted to composition board, 11 x 14 3/8 inches / 27.9 x 36.5 cm)
Horace Pippin Tote. | The Barnes Foundation, The Barnes Shop, $35
Considered one of the greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern European paintings in the world, the Barnes Collection in Philadelphia, Pa., feature works by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, and Renoir, among others. The holdings also include four important paintings by African American artist Horace Pippin. Two of them—“Supper Time” (circa 1940) and “Giving Thanks” (1942)—are featured on a reversible tote. Made of canvas, the tote measures 15 x 13.5 inches.
Tote bag features, HENRY TAYLOR, “Fatty,” 2006 (acrylic and plastic tape on canvas 65 × 54 inches / 165.1 × 137.2 cm). | © Henry Taylor, Collection of R. Blumenthal
Henry Taylor: B Side Tote – Fatty. | Whitney Museum of American Art’s Whitney Shop, $36 each
The tote was produced in partnership with Brooklyn Press on the occasion of the retrospective “Henry Taylor: B Side” at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York (through Jan. 28, 2024). Two different tote bags are available, featuring graphic images of Henry Taylor‘s paintings, either “Fatty” (2006), which is shown, or “Cora (cornbread)” (2008), a tribute to the artist’s mother. Each tote bag is 100 percent cotton and measures 17 x 14 x 7 inches.
From left, the front and back of the t-shirt is shown. The t-shirt is based on DERRICK ADAMS, “Be the Table,” 2023 (acrylic on wood panel, in artist’s frame, 61 x 61 x 2 1/2 inches / 154.9 x 154.9 x 6.4 cm). | © Derrick Adams Studio. Photo by Jeff McLane
Derrick Adams x Union: “Come As You Are” Show Tee. | Gagosian Shop, $55
The t-shirt was produced to commemorate “Derrick Adams: Come as You Are” (Sept. 14-Oct. 28, 2023) at Gagosian Beverly Hills, the artist’s first solo show with the mega gallery, since joining its roster in March. A collaboration between Derrick Adams and Los Angeles-based Union, the 100 percent cotton shirt is pigment dyed and enzyme washed. The shirt is also available in gray.
Basquiat Crown Socks. | © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat Licensed by Artestar, New York
Jean-Michel Basquiat Crown Icon Socks. | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s MCA Store, $22
There is no mistaking the iconic symbolism of Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). The artist’s signature gold crown is featured on the calf-length crew socks with the name “Basquiat” appearing around the ankle. From the brand Rome Pays Off, the cotton socks have ribbing at the top with blue color blocking at the toe, heel, and top highlighting the design (one size fits most adults).
The socks feature HORACE PIPPIN, “Giving Thanks,” 1942 (oil on canvas, later mounted to composition board, 11 x 14 3/8 inches / 27.9 x 36.5 cm)
Horace Pippin: Giving Thanks Socks. | Barnes Foundation, The Barnes Shop, $25
From the collection of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, “Giving Thanks” (1942) by Horace Pippin depicts a family gathered around the dinner table bowing their heads in prayer. The domestic scene features several colorful, patterned textiles, including clothing, a blanket, tablecloth, and rugs that make a bold statement pictured on knitted socks. A blend of 80 percent cotton/nylon and 20 percent spandex/lycra, the socks are one size fits most adults.
The Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile Silk Robe was designed with Gingerlily, a London company that specializes in luxury bedding and other products made with Mulberry silk.
Sheila Bridges: Harlem Toile Silk Robe. | Fine Linens, $425
Working in collaboration with Gingerlily, critically recognized interior designer Sheila Bridges has introduced her Harlem Toile de Jouy design to the luxury and comfort of a 100 percent Mulberry silk robe with a self-tie belt and trim at the collar, patch pockets, and sleeves. The robe is available in lilac, blue, and ivory.
The umbrella is inspired by KEHINDE WILEY, “Lunch with Inettia, Lucemy and Soukenya,” 2022 (oil on paper, 57 x 80.5 inches). | © Kehinde Wiley; and KEHINDE WILEY, “Three Wise Men Greeting Entry Into Lagos,” 2008 (oil on canvas, 72 x 95 1/4 inches / 182.88 x 241.935 cm.). | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Frances and Joseph Nash Field Fund, Accession Number: 2009.20. © Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley: Green Leaf Umbrella. | Kehinde Wiley Shop, $75
The striking design of the umbrella is inspired by two different works by Kehinde Wiley. The leafy green background is drawn from Wiley’s “Lunch with Inettia, Lucemy and Soukenya” (2022) and the clenched fists reference “Three Wise Men Greeting Entry Into Lagos” (2008). Made with 100 percent polyester, the umbrella has a 48-inch arc canopy and hardwood handle. Net proceeds benefit Wiley’s Black Rock Senegal artist-in-residence program in Accra.
From left, the front and back of the t-shirt is shown. The t-shirt commemorates the exhibition “Artist’s Choice: Grace Wales Bonner–Spirit Movers,” which presents works by a variety of artists, including Terry Adkins, Betye Saar, and David Hammons.
Grace Wales Bonner: Spirit Movers Cotton T-Shirt. | Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Design Store, $160
The t-shirt was produced to accompany “Artist’s Choice: Grace Wales Bonner–Spirit Movers,” which is on view at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Curated by British designer Grace Wales Bonner, the exhibition explores “Black cultural and aesthetic practices inspired by the African diaspora” through works drawn from MoMA’s collection. “Spirit Movers,” is printed on the front of the shirt and “Dream in the Rhythm,” appears on the back. Also on the back, the designers initials (“GWB”) are embroidered in blue just below the collar. The crewneck shirt is 100 percent organic cotton.
ARTIST SCARVES
The scarf features JACOB LAWRENCE (1917-2000), Detail of “Toussaint at Ennery,” 1989 (color screenprint on wove paper, Image: 47.3 x 73.5 cm / 18 5/8 x 28 15/16 inches; Sheet: 55.9 x 81.6 cm / 22 x 32 1/8 inches). | National Gallery of Art, Gift of Alexander M. and Judith W. Laughlin. Accession Number: 1993.30.2
Jacob Lawrence: Toussaint at Ennery Scarf. | National Gallery of Art Shop, $60
Jacob Lawrence‘s “Toussaint at Ennery” is part of the The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, the artist’s first narrative body of work (1936-38), which was produced as a series of prints half a century later with master printer Lou Stovall (1937-2023). The 1989 work is in the collection of the National Gallery of art and the scarf, featuring a detail of the image, was designed for the “Afro-Atlantic Histories” exhibition. Made of 100 percent polyester, the scarf measures 33 × 40 inches.
The scarf is based on DAWOUD BEY (American, born 1953), Untitled (James River), 2022 (gelatin silver print, 44 x 55 inches). | © Dawoud Bey
Dawoud Bey Silk Scarf. | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, VMFA Shop, $75
This scarf is produced on the occasion of “Dawoud Bey: Elegy,” which is on view at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond, through Feb. 25, 2024. Inspired by the work of Chicago photographer Dawoud Bey, the oblong scarf is a lightweight, translucent, 100 percent silk and measures 18 x 72 inches.
The scarf is inspired by LUCY T. PETTWAY (1921-2004), “Housetop and Bricklayer with Bars quilt,” circa 1955 (Top and back: cotton and acetate, 91 3/8 × 80 1/8 inches / 232.1 × 203.5 cm). | Gift of Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the William S. Arnett Collection, 2014. Accession Number: 2014.548.52. © Estate of Lucy T. Pettway
Gee’s Bend Pettway Quilt Silk Scarf. | Studio Museum in Harlem’s Studio Store, $95
The scarf recreates “Housetop and Bricklayer with Bars quilt” (circa 1955), a storied design by Gee’s Bend quilt artist Lucy T. Pettway 1921–2004). She fashioned the pattern based on an imagined aerial view of the old Pettway plantation that previously belonged to Joseph Gee. Measuring 50 x 38 inches, the scarf is 85 percent modal and 15 percent silk.
The scarf is based on ROMARE BEARDEN (1911-1988), “The Block,” 1971 (cut and pasted printed, colored and metallic papers, photostats, graphite, ink marker, gouache, watercolor, and ink on Masonite, 48 inches × 18 feet / 121.9 × 548.6 cm; Individual panel: 48 × 36 inches / 121.9 × 91.4 cm). | Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shore, 1978; Accession Number: 1978.61.1-.6. Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, N.Y.
Romare Bearden: The Block Silk Scarf. | Studio Museum in Harlem’s Studio Store, $95
Romare Bearden (1911-1988) grew up in Harlem and in 1940 established a studio on 125th Street. From the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, “The Block” (1971) is Bearden’s monumental depiction of the neighborhood’s vibrant life and built environment, from the barber shop to the corner store. Six of the seven panels that compose the collage work are pictured on the 100 percent silk-twill oblong scarf, which has a hand-rolled hem and measures 72 × 22 inches.
The scarf features a detail from MARIA MAGDALEN CAMPOS-PONS, “She Always Knew of the Space in Between,” 2019 (composition of five panels: gouache, watercolor, graphite, acrylic ink, peacock feather on paper, 63 × 32 inches / 160 × 81.3 cm) each. | Courtesy the artist and Gallery Wendi Norris, San Francisco. © María Magdalena Campos-Pons. Photo: Courtesy of Gallery Wendi Norris
Maria Magdalen Campos-Pons: She Always Knew the Space In Between Scarf. | Brooklyn Museum Shop, $115
The scarf is inspired by “Maria Magdalen Campos-Pons: Behold,” a multimedia survey of the artist that spans four decades and is currently on view at the Brooklyn Museum, through Jan. 14, 2024. The scarf image is adapted from one panel of “She Always Knew of the Space In Between” (2019), a mixed-media painting by Maria Magdalen Campos-Pons.
The scarf is based on WANGECHI MUTU, “Fallen Heads,” 2010 (ink, paint, collage, contact paper, and plastic pearls on Mylar, 104 × 53 3/4 inches / 264.2 × 136.5 cm). | Collection of Paul and Linda Gotskind. Courtesy the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles. © Wangechi Mutu
Wangechi Mutu: Fallen Heads Scarf. | New Museum Store, $160
In the spring, the New Museum in New York presented “Wangechi Mutu: Intertwined,” a survey of the artist’s 25-year career featuring more than 100 works, including “Fallen Heads.” Wangechi Mutu‘s mixed-media painting also graced the cover of the exhibition catalog and inspired a large scarf. Digitally printed the 100 percent silk, the scarf measures 25.6 x 47.25 inches (65 x 120 cm).
The wrap features a detail of LORNA SIMPSON, “Ultra Violet 1,” 2015 (collage on ink and paper, 14.6 x 18.5 inches). | © Lorna Simpson, Courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth
Lorna Simpson Wrap, Ultra Violet 1. | Hauser & Wirth Shop, $300
Among the many threads of Lorna Simpson‘s practice, she is best known for her collage portraits, inventive works based on images of women sourced from Jet and Ebony magazines, circa 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Simpson has produced several scarves and wraps featuring the portraits, including a large cashmere blend wrap based on “Ultra Violet 1” (2015). Made in Italy, the wrap is 90 percent modal and 10 percent cashmere, and measures 51.2 x 70.9 inches (130 x 180 cm ).
The scarf is based on LUBAINA HIMID, CBE RA, “Man in a Shirt Drawer,” 2017-18 (acrylic paint, wooden drawer and brass handles 468 × 390 × 202 mm). | Collection of the Tate. Purchased with funds provided by the Denise Coates Foundation on the occasion of the 2018 centenary of women gaining the right to vote in Britain, 2019). © Lubaina Himid, Courtesy the artist and Hollybush Gardens, London
Wales Bonner x Lubaina Himid “Man in a Shirt Drawer” Scarf. | Wales Bonner, $346
“Man in a Shirt Drawer” (2017-18), an iconic portrait by British painter Lubaina Himid, inspired the scarf. Himid won the Turner Prize in 2017. A collaboration between the artist and British luxury label Wales Bonner, the scarf is 100 percent silk, and measures 68 x 68 cm (about 26.5 inches square). Made in Italy.
Based on KEHINDE WILEY, Portrait of Llewellyn Doris, 2019, (oil on canvas, 238.8 x 185.4 cm / 94 x 73 inches) | © Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley Portrait of Llewellyn Doris Silk Scarf. | Kehinde Wiley Shop, $350
The scarf is inspired by a series of oval portraits by Kehinde Wiley in which his subjects don armor. Made of 100 percent silk charmeuse with a hand rolled hem, the scarf is printed on both sides and measures 36 x 36 inches (91 x 91 cm). Net proceeds benefit Wiley’s Black Rock Senegal artist-in-residence program in Accra.
GAMES & PUZZLES
The Nina Chanel Abney puzzle is inspired by Picasso’s “Girl before a Mirror,” a 1932 painting from MoMA’s collection.
Nina Chanel Abney Puzzle. | Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Design Store, $28
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) commissioned the puzzle by New York artist Nina Chanel Abney. The layered image depicts the reflection of a figure gazing into a mirror against a bold yellow background punctuated with a grid of purple dots. Abney’s work offers a fresh take on “Girl before a Mirror” (1932), a Pablo Picasso painting in MoMA’s collection. The 1,000-piece puzzle measures 30 x 20 inches when it is assembled.
The puzzle is based on BENJAMIN WIGFALL, 1958 (opaque watercolor on wove paper, Sheet: 5 1/8 × 7 3/16 inches / 13.02 × 18.26 cm); Mount: 5 1/2 × 7 3/4 inches / 13.97 × 19.69 cm); Mat: 16 × 20 inches / 40.64 × 50.8 cm). | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Gift of the artist, Object Number: 2007.27. © Benjamin Wigfall
Benjamin Wigfall Untitled (Christmas Card Design) Puzzle. | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, VMFA Shop, $15
The 500-piece puzzle features “Untitled (Christmas card design)” (1958) by Benjamin Wigfall (1930-2017), from the collection of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Produced on the occasion of the Richmond, Va., native’s recent survey exhibition, “Benjamin Wigfall and Communications Village” (June 17-Sept. 10, 2023) at VMFA, the finished puzzle meausres 19.25 x 26.25 inches. Suggested age is 13+.
The basketball design is based on the background of KEHINDE WILEY, “John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester,” 2013 (oil on canvas, 270 x 209 cm / 106 3/8 x 82 3/8 inches). | © Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley Earl of Rochester Basketball and Plinth. | Kehinde Wiley Shop, $275
The design of the open edition leather basketball is inspired by the blue-leaf background of “John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester” (2013), a portrait featured in Kehinde Wiley‘s The World Stage: Jamaica series. A monogrammed cotton dust bag and plinth with artist’s laser-cut signature is included with the basketball. (Ships deflated.) Net proceeds benefit Wiley’s Black Rock Senegal artist-in-residence program in Accra.
The Basquiat Lifeblood Basketball is produced by round21 in collaboration with the artist’s estate. | © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed by Artestar, New York
Jean-Michel Basquiat: Lifeblood Basketball. | Museum of Modern Art’s MoMA Design Store, $135
Inspired by the art of Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), the basketball features the artist’s signature and details from four of his works: “Beat Bop 1” (1983), which is in MoMA’s collection; “A Panel of Experts” (1982); “Made in Japan 1” (1982); and “Untitled” (Skull) (1983), The basketball is a collaboration between Basquiat’s estate and round21, a platform that works with artists and athletes on special edition, sports-related products. Made of composite leather, the basketball is size 7 (29.5 inches circumference) and arrives fully inflated in a limited-edition display box.
Basquiat Playing Cards. | © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Licensed By Artestar, New York
Jean-Michel Basquiat Crown Playing Cards. | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s MCA Store, $18
Far from a standard deck of playing cards, this set is a tribute to the iconic and imaginative work of Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). Each card and the box feature paintings, drawings, and sketches by the artist. The poker size (63 x 88 mm) deck is designed by Theory 11.
Shantell Martin is the sixth artist to participate in the UNO Artiste Series, along with Nina Chanel Abney, Takashi Murakami, Shepart Fairey, and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Shantell Martin x UNO Artiste Series Deck. | Mattel Creations, $25
Shantell Martin collaborated with Mattel Creations on its UNO Artiste Series. Known for her whimsical line marks, Martin created all new drawings for popular card game: “Often referred to as a language of lines, Martin’s whimsical drawings and messages are both thought-provoking and memorable. The iconic artworks shown on the card feature her cast of unique characters and bold typography…”
The puzzle is based on ALMA THOMAS, “Springtime in Washington,” 1971 (acrylic on canvas, 48 x 48 inches / 121.9 x 121.9 cm).
Alma Thomas: Springtime Circular Jigsaw Puzzle. | Studio Museum in Harlem’s Studio Store, $22
Alma Thomas (1891-1978) was inspired by nature and the organic designs of flower beds. She often imagined aerial views of floral landscapes in her paintings. Her concentric circle compositions, including “Springtime in Washington” (1971), which inspired the 500-piece puzzle, are among her most celebrated works. New from Pomegranate, the circular puzzle is 22 inches in diameter.
WALL CALENDARS
Cover art: LEZLEY SAAR, “Nella Larsen…Passing,” 2003 (acrylic on velour fabric, embellishment on lace fabric, curtain rod, 90 x 55 inches). | Published by Pomegranate
Legacy: The Art of Betye, Lezley, and Alison Saar 2024 Wall Calendar. | Amazon, $15.99
For Betye Saar, 97, and her daughters Alison Saar and Lezley Saar, art is a family affair. The Los Angeles artists have distinct practices, but often explore similar themes, including identity, history, and spirituality. The calendar features four works by each artist dating from 2014 to 2023, with the exception of a sketchbook Betye made circa 1968-70. Lezley’s painting “Nella Larsen…Passing” (2003) graces the cover.
Cover art: ERNIE BARNES, “The Tunesmith,” 1978. © Ernie Barnes Family Trust. | Published by Andrews McMeel
Ernie Barnes 2024 Wall Calendar
Ernie Barnes is celebrated for his heartfelt representations of Black life in the South, the experiences of African American women, the magic of music, and the triumphs and challenges of athletes across a range of sports, including football, which he played professionally before focusing on his career as an artist. “The Sugar Shack,” his most famous painting, and a variety of other images by the artist are presented in the calendar, including “Porch Ladies,” “Lift Every Voice,” and “The Bassist,” with “The Tunesmith” gracing the cover.
Cover art: WHITFIELD LOVELL, “Kin X (My Pretty),” 2008. © Whitfield Lovell, Courtesy DC Moore Gallery | Published by Pomegranate
Whitfield Lovell 2024 Wall Calendar. | Amazon, $15.99
Inspired by photographs of anonymous African Americans dating from emancipation to the civil rights era, Whitfield Lovell‘s installations and mixed-media works explore identity, history, and heritage. The calendar focuses on the artist’s Kin series, Conté crayon drawings produced between 2008 and 2011 that pair portraits with vintage objects rich with meaning and metaphor, suggesting the personal histories of the subjects.
Cover art: MOE BROOKER (1940-2022), “Present Futures,” 2006 (mixed media and encaustic on wood panel, 48 × 48 inches / 121.9 × 121.9 cm). | © Moe Brooker. Purchased with funds contributed by Marion Boulton Stroud. Accession Number: 2006-149-1
African American Artists 2024 Wall Calendar. | Philadelphia Museum of Art Store, $26
Featuring works from the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the calendar celebrates African American art throughout the year. Beauford Delaney, Moe Brooker, Aaron Douglas, William H. Johnson, Jacob Lawrence, Odili Donald Odita, Horace Pippin, Henry O. Tanner, Alma Thomas, and Dox Thrash, are among the artists represented. The calendar is spiral bound.
Cover art: CHARLES WHITE, “Mother Courage II,” 1974 (oil on canvas, 49 3/4 × 39 7/8 inches). © The Charles White Archives, National Academy of Design, New York, N.Y. | Published by Pomegranate
African American Art 2024 Wall Calendar. | Amazon, $15.99
A selection of works by some of the most important African American artists active in the 20th century is featured in the calendar. Works by Emma Amos, Edward Mitchell Bannister, Romare Bearden, Eldzier Cortor, Allan Rohan Crite, Lois Mailou Jones, Jacob Lawrence, Archibald Motley Jr., Faith Ringgold, Alma Woodsey Thomas, Laura Wheeler Waring, and Charles White are included, drawn from a variety of institutions including the National Academy of Design, Saint Louis Art Museum, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, and Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.
Cover art: JACOB LAWRENCE, “General Toussaint L’Ouverture,” 1986. © The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Courtesy DC Moore Gallery | Published by Pomegranate
Jacob Lawrence 2024 Wall Calendar. | Amazon, $15.99
The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture was the first narrative series Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000) produced. Painted on 41 panels from 1936-38, the series documented the dramatic arc of L’Ouverture’s life, from being born enslaved to becoming a general and key leader of the Haitian Revolution. Half a century later, Lawrence returned to the project, recreating the series in a suite of 15 silkscreen prints made between 1986 and 1997 in collaboration with Lou Stovall of Workshop Inc., in Washington, D.C. The images included in the calendar are drawn from the print series with the first work “General Toussaint L’Ouverture” (1986), a portrait of the legendary figure in profile, gracing the cover.
KITCHEN & HOME
A new collaboration, Williams Sonoma x Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile introduces an extensive line of products, including a set of cotton cocktail napkins
Sheila Bridges: Harlem Toile Cotton Cocktail Napkins. | Williams Sonoma, $19.95
The set of cotton cocktail napkins from Williams Sonoma x Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile, features a different design on each of the four napkins, a “scene of contemporary life that playfully satirizes both old and new cultural narratives.” The napkins are part of a new collaboration with renowned interior designer Sheila Bridges that features her Harlem Toile de Jouy design on an extensive line of home, kitchen, and bar products. The napkins are 10 inches square and made with 100 percent cotton.
A new collaboration, Williams Sonoma x Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile introduces an extensive line of products, including a double-wall ice bucket
Sheila Bridges: Harlem Toile Ice Bucket. | Williams Sonoma, $129.95
From celebrated interior designer Sheila Bridges, a new collaboration features her Harlem Toile de Jouy design on an extensive line of home, kitchen, and bar products. Williams Sonoma x Sheila Bridges Harlem Toile includes a double-wall ice bucket made of enameled and lacquered stainless steel, trimmed with polished brass. The bucket is 6 1/2 inches in diameter and 8 inches high, with a three-quart capacity. (Each ice bucket is unique, due to variations in hand craftsmanship.)
The tea towel features, WANGECHI MUTU, “Intertwined,” 2002 (watercolor with collage on paper, Image: 16 1/8 × 12 1/8 inches 40.96 × 30.8 cm). | Gift of Mary and Bob Mersky, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2021.115.6. © Wangechi Mutu
Wangechi Mutu: Intertwined Tea Towel. | Third Drawer Down, $27
“Wangechi Mutu: Intertwined,” presenting more than 100 works across Wangechi Mutu‘s 25-year career, was on view at the New Museum in New York in the spring. The exhibition’s title work, a watercolor collage called “Intertwined,” is featured on the cotton tea towel. The project was designed and produced exclusively by Third Drawer Down in partnership with the New Museum in New York.
The mug is based on FAITH RINGGOLD, “Black Light Series #12: Party Time,” 1969 (oil on canvas, 59 3/4 x 85 1/2 inches / 152 x 217 cm). | © 2019 Faith Ringgold / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, Courtesy ACA Galleries, New York. Photo by Ron Amstutz
Faith Ringgold: Party Time Mug. | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s MCA Store, $17.95
Produced on the occasion of “Faith Ringgold: American People,” the expansive survey exhibition previously presented at the de Young Museum in San Francisco and currently on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, the ceramic mug features “Black Light Series #12: Party Time” (1969), a painting by Faith Ringgold. The mug holds 15 ounces and measures 4.5 x 3.5 inches.
The trinket box features FAITH RINGGOLD, “Black Light Series #7: Ego Painting,” 1969 (oil on canvas, 76 × 76 cm / 30 × 30 inches). | Art Institute of Chicago, 2019.184. Copyright © 2019 Faith Ringgold / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Faith Ringgold: Ego Painting Trinket Box. | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago’s MCA Store, $38
Created to celebrate “Faith Ringgold: American People,” the expansive survey exhibition currently on view at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, the small trinket box features “Black Light Series #7: Ego Painting” (1969) by Faith Ringgold. The powerful painting is included in the exhibition and also covers the exhibition catalog. Made of wood and laminated wood, the box has a single drawer and measures 5.5 x 5.5 x 1.5 inches. The box is available in two additional designs.
Basquiat New Wave Towel. | Artwork © Jean-Michel Basquiat Estate. Licensed by Artestar, New York
Jean-Michel Basquiat New Wave Beach Towel. | Rome Pays Off, $120
The beach towel features “New York/New Wave,” an early work by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), commemorating a seminal moment in the artist’s career. The painting was exhibited in a group exhibition titled “New York/New Wave,” after Basquiat’s work. Presented at P.S. 1 gallery in 1981 (now MoMA PS1), the show turned out to be a launch pad that transformed the artist’s career. The towel is 100 percent cotton terry and measures 39.3 x 64 inches (100 x 164 cm).
The name of the beach towel project (“Gimme That Sand & Sea”) reflects the titles CHRISTINA QUARLES gives to her paintings, pithy and poignant, shorthand spoken-style language with phonetic spellings that resonates with her visual images.
Christina Quarles: Gimme That Sand & Sea Towel. | Hauser & Wirth Shop, $85
The towel was created on the occasion of the recent exhibition“Christina Quarles: Come In From An Endless Place” at Hauser & Wirth Menorca, the artist’s first exhibition in Spain. Studies in color and form, Christina Quarles‘s compositions explore identity and the human the human figure. The cotton towel measures 86 x 168 cm. Another beach towel featuring Quarles work is also available (“Sorry I Missed Yew,” with sales benefitting Walk the Walk USA, a volunteer initiative that focuses on voter empowerment).
The chair features a design from LORETTA PETTWAY, “Roman Stripes Variation Quilt,” 1970 (pieced cotton twill, denim twill, plaid cotton/polyester blend twill, and synthetic knit, 7 feet 2 inches × 70 3/4 inches / 218.4 × 179.7 cm). | Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2017-229-7. © 2023 Loretta Pettway / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Gee’s Bend: Loretta Pettway Mod Chair. | Philadelphia Museum of Art Store, $998
Based on the design of Loretta Pettway‘s “Roman Stripes Variation Quilt” (1970), which is in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the chair is part of PMA x Cloth & Company: Gee’s Bend Edition. Exclusive to the museum, the furniture collaboration includes nearly 30 items and is inspired the work of five Gee’s Bend, Ala., quilt artists. Produced by Cloth & Co., a women-led, family-owned company, the upholstered furniture features digitally reproduced artwork licensed from the artists and is made on-demand in Chicago. The chair is upholstered with 100 percent cotton fabric and measures 29 inches wide, 31 inches in depth, and 35 inches high.
The ottoman features a design from ANNIE E. PETTWAY, “Flying Geese Variation Quilt,” circa 1935 (pieced cotton and wool, 7 feet 2 inches × 71 inches / 218.4 × 180.3 cm). | Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2017-229-5. © 2023 Estate of Annie E. Pettway / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Gee’s Bend: Annie E. Pettway Large Round Ottoman, Philadelphia Museum of Art Store, $649
Based on Annie E. Pettway‘s “Fly Geese Variation Quilt” (circa 1935), a work in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the ottoman is part of PMA x Cloth & Company: Gee’s Bend Edition. Exclusive to the museum, the furniture collaboration includes nearly 30 items and is inspired the work of five Gee’s Bend, Ala., artists. Produced by Cloth & Co., a women-led, family-owned company, the upholstered furniture features digitally reproduced artwork licensed from the artists and is made on-demand in Chicago. The ottoman is upholstered with 100 percent cotton fabric and measures 36 inches in diameter, 16 inches high. CT
Editor’s Note: The featured items are subject to availability and described based on each vendor’s summary. Stated prices reflect pricing at time of publication. Products sold by museum shops may be available at discounted prices for members
FIND MORE For additional ideas, see Previous Gift Guides (some items may no longer be available)
