Aspire Auctions

Winter 2007 Auction

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121. Beni E. Kosh (African/American, Cleveland, 1917-1993)

Acrylic on artist's board, estate stamped on verso. Abstracted architectural structure in monotone. Framed in black metal, overall approx. 20-1/4" x 16-1/4".

Beni Kosh is a Cleveland artist, relatively unknown in his lifetime. He is noted in the catalog YET STILL WE RISE, AFRICAN AMERICAN ART IN CLEVELAND 1920-1970 and included in shows at the Cleveland State University, the Butler Institue of American Art and the Riffe Gallery during 1996-97. He had a 2001 show at Western Reserve Historical Museum in Cleveland and there are several of his works in their collection. Born as Charles Elmer Harris in Cleveland Ohio, he changed his name in the 1960's, which translates to "Son of Ethiopia". He rarely exhibited or sold his work and was affiliated with the African-American artists' "Sho-nuff Art Group" and the Karamu House and studied under Cleveland Artist Paul Travis. His style is very diverse and he experimented with Cubism, portraiture and abstractions in series. He received little recognition during his lifetime and was only "rediscovered" literally days after his death when hundreds of his paintings were rescued by an art dealer.

200/400   Sold $207.00
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