Work by Najee Dorsey selected for the 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival

A work by contemporary visual artist Najee Dorsey has been selected as the official artwork of the 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival. Now in its 47th year, this annual celebration of music, culture and Jazz art is one of Atlanta’s most beloved musical traditions, organized by the City of Atlanta Office of Cultural Affairs.

One of the largest free jazz festivals in the entire country, this three-day outdoor festival was originally conceived by Mayor Maynard Jackson in 1978. He is renowned for declaring that “jazz music is America’s only original art form, and… Atlanta, with its growing reputation as an international center for arts and education, has both the opportunity and responsibility to promote an art form whose roots are indigenous to the South. »

In the years since, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has continued to grow in scope and prestige by showcasing excellent musical arts while ensuring that the event remains free and open to the public . This highlights the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs’ commitment to ensuring high-quality cultural experiences are accessible to all in the City of Atlanta.

And this year, when more than 200,000 fans of jazz music and culture return to Piedmont Park on Memorial Day weekend, they will be treated to a feast for both eyes and ears. Two Generations conveys an artistic legacy, a shared love of music and the bonds that can be forged between disparate age groups around shared interests and creative passions.

Since growing up in Blytheville, Arkansas, Dorsey has used mixed methods to depict scenes reminiscent of his childhood in the South. Dorsey’s first foray into making money from his art was when he was 5 years old and sold his first works to his mother in exchange for candy. Since then, art has remained Dorsey’s favorite hobby and is now his career.

Dorsey has successfully merged his artistic talent and deep understanding of the nuances of the South African American experience to establish a meaningful and thriving artistic career. In 2010, Dorsey founded Black Art In America™ (BAIA) in response to the lack of mainstream galleries and museums for African American artists. The network has since become the leading online portal focused on African American art, artists, collectors, leaders and enthusiasts, with a monthly reach of more than 750,000 people.

Many of Dorsey’s works incorporate little-known and little-known historical figures as well as scenes of African American life that ring nostalgic for the experiences of African Americans in the South. Although he dropped out of art studies in his youth, he continued his artistic career and made a name for himself both locally and abroad. A key point of inspiration was his friendship with Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, an artist and community activist, who mentored him and inspired him to refocus his work on issues of personal importance. Today, Dorsey lives in Atlanta with his wife Seteria and continues to inspire new generations of African American artists and art enthusiasts.

“We are proud to announce the signature artwork of the 47^th The annual Atlanta Jazz Festival is two generations by Najee Dorsey,” Camille Russell Love, executive director of the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, said in a statement. “The mixed media artwork depicts a father and son sharing a beautiful moment and truly represents the spirit of the festival.”

Two Generations will be featured on this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival poster and official t-shirt, both available for purchase during the festival.

Learn more about the 2024 Atlanta Jazz Festival here and see more of Dorsey’s work on Instagram.