James Baldwin (1924-1987) was an American writer and activist whose work forms part of the historical bedrock of the civil rights and gay liberation movements in the United States and beyond. His first novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain (1953), was a semi-autobiographical exploration of a young Black man’s progress through American experiences of masculinity, race, religion, class and sexuality. His second, Giovanni’s Room (1956) took a less ambiguous approach to Baldwin’s own sexual orientation, and is now acclaimed as a courageous and groundbreaking contribution to queer literature, written and published long before the emergence of the gay rights movement. Baldwin’s eloquence, intelligence and fearless outspokenness made him a compelling and often controversial figure in television debates, and he counted among his friends such pioneers as Nina Simone, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison. The Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning archive documentary film I Am Not Your Negro (2016) is a celebration of Baldwin’s life and activism, based on his own unfinished manuscript Remember this House. In 2018, Baldwin’s novel If Beale Street Could Talk was adapted into a film of the same name by Barry Jenkins, the Oscar-winning director of 2016’s queer classic Moonlight.

Framed Dimensions: 347mm x 414mm (Unframed: 250mm x 310mm)

Oil on 300gsm canvas paper
Glazed, mounted and framed

Supplied with signed letter of authenticity from Barnaby.

Please note, this is the original artwork by Barnaby. It is unique and not a reproduction.