The Black Cowboy is a series of acrylic paintings inspired by the historical accounts of African American cowboys during the Old West era (also commonly referred to as the “American Frontier” or the “Wild West”), an era not very far removed from slavery. Approximately 20 to 25 percent of cowboys at this time were African American. The term “Cowboy” was first used in a derogatory manner to describe African American ranchers, while their white counterparts were referred to as “Cow Hands”. Due to Western and White-centric media, there has been a concerted effort to erase history and depict Cowboys as white. The Black Cowboy collection is the artist’s way of refuting this and shedding light on the incredible lives of Bill Pickett, Isom Dart, and John Ware – all of whom inspired these paintings.

Daniel Maluka

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Daniel Maluka is a self-taught, Toronto-based artist and writer originally from South Africa. He merges Afrocentric influences with surrealist elements to explore the depths of the subconscious in his art. Daniel's visually captivating pieces have gained international recognition, being featured in galleries across Toronto and collected worldwide. In addition to his visual art, Daniel has made notable contributions to literature. His works have been published in various magazines, and he has led numerous poetry workshops. His debut poetry collection, Unwashed, published by Mawenzi House, was featured in CBC's "37 Most Anticipated Poetry Books for Spring 2024." The collection is known for its visceral, image-rich poetry.