Willie Cole's Black Art Matters Tote Bag

The Black Art Matters Tote Bag is a durable, screen-printed cotton bag designed with both functionality and style in mind. The bold design, printed on one side, serves as a powerful affirmation of the importance of Black Art in social, academic, cultural, and institutional contexts. Perfect for carrying books, groceries, or everyday essentials, this spacious tote is versatile enough to suit your needs, whether you're heading to the library, grocery store, or just running errands. Made from high-quality cotton, the bag is both sturdy and eco-friendly, making it a practical accessory that combines utility with a meaningful message.

10% of the proceeds from the sale of Willie Cole’s Black Art Matters merchandise are donated to Wells Bring Hope, an organization committed to providing safe water to those in need. Learn more and donate at wellsbringhope.org.

Dimensions: 15" x 16"

Made in the USA

About the Artist:

Willie Cole (American, b. 1955) is an  artist whose artistic rise began in the 1980s. His ability to manipulate American consumer objects into African forms have led him to be dubbed both a transformer and a trickster. In his artworks the influence of dada, pop, and art provera blend into a kind of perceptual engineering that distinguishes him among his peers and begs the question “are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?“

Cole is best known for his assemblage sculptures made from steam irons or high heel shoes, and his “scorch” paintings and drawing made with a hot iron. With the steam iron he addresses issues of social injustice, both past and present, and redefines the scorch mark as a potent symbol of race, and the black diasporic experience. Alternatively in his high heel assemblages he compresses female energy and emotions into tribal-like masks and figurines that appear as if they are one breath away from being alive.

In 2006 Willie Cole was the first visual artist to receive the David Driskell Prize celebrating his contributions to the field of African American Art. He was born in 1955 in Somerville New Jersey. Among his generation of African American Artists are Kerry James Marshall, Carrie Mae Weems, Fred Wilson, Glenn Ligon, and Allison Saar to name a few.

Willie Cole’s art is in the permanent collection of major museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC; High Museum of Art, Atlanta; National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC; The Museum of Modern Art, NYC; The Newark Museum of Art, Newark.