Black Art, Bold Love

On February 14, the doors to the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA) will open to celebrate the work of Black artists across Alberta and Canada. For the past 20 years, 5 Artists 1 Love has been hosting the annual art exhibition during Black History Month, celebrating Edmonton’s African-Canadian communities and the artists that represent them. This year, the exhibition launches with their All Black Wear Gallery Affair, a celebratory evening focused on style, creativity, and community. The art exhibition will run until April 16, 2026. 

Below is a look at the artists included in this year’s show.

AJA Louden

AJA Louden is an award-winning Jamaican-Canadian artist whose work is often based on his experience of growing up Black in the Prairies. His work has been shown across Western Canada, including spaces such as the AGA, the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and the Misericordia Community Hospital.

Ash Shumba

Ash Shumba’s work is deeply rooted in cultural memory. Growing up in Zimbabwe, now living in Canada, Shumba’s work often touches on migration and ancestral connection. His work is rooted in cultural influence, including Shona sculpture, a modern art movement from Zimbabwe that originated in the 20th century.

Blanche Thompson

Jamaican born and Canadian raised, Blanche Thompson often depicts the female form in her work. Her brightly coloured, bold art is intended to communicate moments in time and ask viewers to be curious about the subjects she paints.

Braxton Garneau

Braxton Garneau is a visual artist whose work has been featured in solo exhibits across galleries in the United States and Canada. His bold visuals, using asphalt, raffia, cotton and other natural materials, often come together to tell a bigger story. Garnau focuses as much on the materials used as he does on the finished piece.

Raneece Buddan

An award-winning artist with Jamaican roots, Raneece Buddan, has been featured in galleries across Western Canada, as well as in the United States and France. Buddan’s work, focused on self-discovery, often depicts textiles and other unique materials.

Dara Ojo

Dara Ojo is a wildlife photographer, focused on biodiversity. His work often depicts close-up visuals of anthropods, snowflakes and reptiles which combines his love of art and science. His work has been featured by CNN, BBC, The Weather Network, National Geographic magazine and its sister platform, NATGEO.

Diana Ohiozebau

A mixed media artist, raised in Nigeria and now based in Edmonton, Diana Ohiozebau explores identity, culture and history through her art. She often uses paint and textiles to create bold new textures that translate into visuals that honour her Nigerian heritage.

Faisa Omer

Faisa Omer’s work as a portrait artist began with a focus on the beauty of Black Muslim women. Her self-taught creative work began during the pandemic lockdown when she had the time and space to explore her camera skills. When she isn’t taking portraits, Omer works as a psychotherapist who supports racialized students.

Judy Robinson

Judy Robinson’s bold acrylic paintings are meant to honour her African heritage, in particular, the hardships during Grenada’s cultural revolution in the 1970s. The intentional ambiguity of her work is intended to have viewers questioning how we see ourselves and others.

Keon Courtney

Starting out with a passion for portraiture, Keon Courtney’s work has shifted between many art forms including spray painting, charcoal drawings and tattooing. With a focus on depth and boldness, Courtney’s work often features pop-culture icons and musicians.

Kyle Smith

Kyle Smith is not only an artist; he also considers himself a storyteller. Smith’s background in advertising led him to a creative pursuit in cartoons, comics and kids’ storybooks. His work often explores themes of Afro-fantasy, futurism and pop culture.

Latoya Farrell

Latoya Farrell’s work is rooted in how society defines “Blackness” as well as how she, herself, defines it. She often draws on her own family history, using photographs from the past to create visual narratives, making her work deeply personal.

Lisa Mayes

Lisa Mayes’ work often touches on themes such as language reclamation, visual culture, representation, and belonging. Using a range of mediums such as painting, sculpture, sound installation, and digital media, her work aims to create a connection between land and culture.

Lorelle Whittingham

Lorelle Whittingham’s work has been featured in international exhibitions and across Alberta. Whittingham, guided by her Mauritian and Jamaican heritage and her experience as a first-generation Canadian, uses mixed media, sculpture and painting to explore themes of silence and suffering.

Madeline LeBlanc

During a difficult time of homelessness, Madeline LeBlanc used found materials from shelters she inhabited to create art using cardboard, paper and craft paint. Her work focuses on themes of accessibility, arts affordability and the sometimes exclusionary experience of the art world.

Marjorie Marshall

For Marjorie Marshall, art and fashion have always been related. Her work has expanded from watercolours and collage, to a passion for wearable millinery art in the form of hats and headpieces. Marshall uses traditional techniques, hand manipulation and flat pattern methods to create unique art that is intended to be worn and celebrated.

Reckie Lloyd

Liberian-born Reckie Llyod discovered his love of art while growing up during the Liberian Civil War. Upon immigrating to Canada, he began to develop his craft and now works with oil-based paints to create highly detailed, realistic portraits. In addition to his work as an artist, Lloyd also co-founded Sangea Academy with a mission to preserve West African culture through music and dance.

Richard Lipscombe

Longtime St. Albert resident Richard Lipscombe creates visually appealing art that often depicts moments captured in time. His work is rooted both in African and Albertan culture and he often uses watercolour and acrylics to paint his subjects.

Shoko César

Shoko César has been a longtime lecturer in the University of Alberta’s Department of Art and Design. His work combines visual art, product design, public installations, and architecture. His award-winning work is on display at the Canadian Museum of History as part of its permanent collection.

Jabari Broodhagen

Canadian born with a background in Jamaican and Barbadian heritage, Jabari Broodhagen’s art focuses on Black Canadian history and culture. Broodhagen uses mixed mediums such as acrylic, graphite, charcoal, and aerosol to create his bold works of art. His work extends beyond the canvas, as he also creates Afrocentric tattoo designs.