Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... and the color black is one of the most beautiful colors Art historian, art collector, curator, and writer Charles Moore takes you on an exquisite journey through the world of the Black artists who revolutionized contemporary art and the patrons who dedicated their lives to collecting their works. Through interviews and dialogues, Moore captures the essence of exceptional Black artists, exploring their quests for recognition of their brilliance. Moore touches on the powerful relationships between collectors and artists, as well as on the intricate and fascinating business of art ownership, from managing your assets to supporting the growth of Black art through sponsorship and involvement. The color black evokes a myriad of emotions, and that's what makes it one of the most impactful shades on the palette wheel. "Of all the tincts that can fill up a canvas," Moore emphasizes, "black exudes brilliance." With a master's degree in museum studies from Harvard, the Columbia University doctoral candidate in art education has already established himself as one of the most promising young voices in the art world. He expertly balances abstract criticism with pragmatic advice. In this follow-up to his acclaimed guide to art collecting, The Black Market (2020), Moore offers readers astute, thoughtful essays centered around the titular color black and provides logistical advice for Black artists and collectors. Central to the book's message is a juxtaposition between Western culture's association of the color white with purity and black with "grief and death." Although black has long been associated with innocence in African and Asian cultures, these essays aim to challenge Western collectors, critics, and museums, noting, for example, that "White supremacy has...found a warm welcome in museum board seats." Some pieces move beyond the realm of high art, noting the artistic merit and astute racial commentary found in African American literature, public art, family portraits, and "Visual Albums," such as Kanye West's Runaway (2010). The book's more practical essays provide tips for building a collection, finding mentors in the field, and getting into "the business of art." Although the wide-ranging nature of the chapters makes for a sometimes-disjointed reading experience at times, each of the essays here offers readers fresh insights into the intersection of art and race. Most importantly, Moore never misses a chance to introduce readers to a wide range of Black artists, from the well known to the up-and-coming. Entire chapters are effectively devoted to "the disruptors" and "the eclectics" who are transforming the art scene in the United States. Overall, this is a learned yet approachable book by an author who's well versed in art history and theory as well as in the scholarship of W.E.B. Du Bois, Angela Y. Davis, and other Black theorists. A sophisticated artistic celebration of Blackness. - Kirkus Reviews