The Classics
The Afro Block Party
Acquired 2021 / Installed 2022
Acrylic on canvas, four works
18 × 12 inches each
Permanent Collection, Southeast Community Center
San Francisco, California
The Classics brings together four foundational characters from The Afro Block Party: The Afro, Afro-Puffs, Thee Fine-Apple, and The ’Fro Hawk. Created in 2020, the four acrylic paintings established an early visual language for the illustrated world that would continue to expand across murals, public art, exhibitions, publications and collectible works.
The series was acquired for the permanent collection of the Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans Avenue through the San Francisco Arts Commission’s 2D Artwork Program. Artists for the program were selected from the Bayview Artist Registry as part of an initiative to build a collection celebrating the people, history, values and culture of Bayview–Hunters Point.
Initially, two works from the series were selected for acquisition. Following a studio visit, Arts Commission staff recommended keeping the body of work together, acquiring all four paintings at a smaller scale rather than separating the series. The Classics is now permanently installed as a four-work grouping at the Southeast Community Center.
Collection: City and County of San Francisco / Southeast Community Center
Artwork Program: San Francisco Arts Commission + San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Location: 1550 Evans Avenue, San Francisco