Historically speaking, Black art has been sorely underrepresented within the art world. But with each passing year, the barriers continue to be torn away, and their accomplishments are taking center stage as the world continues to recognize the impact of their contributions. 

A moment in time where this is prominently on display is during Miami Art Week and Art Basel Miami Beach. It's an opportunity to curate the significant accomplishments of African contemporary art and Black artists, both as individuals and as part of a larger collection of contemporary expression. This year at the annual AfriKin Art (Miami’s premiere Africana art fair) will present "The Beautiful Ones Are (Not Yet) Born” a tribute to the book by the Ghanaian author Ayi Kwei Armah. It represents a possible world that opposes the barbarism of our current order to the possibility of rebirth. And asks the question, “In whose eyes am I not beautiful?” Save the date to join us in Miami from November 30th - December 4th. 

Art is best appreciated in the flesh. While we highly recommend you travel to events like Art Basel for the full experience, thanks to the modern age we live in, access to Black artists' work has never been more accessible. If you can't see their works in person, at the very least, you can view them online.

Here are five artists who we think deserve your attention.

Angèle Etoundi Essamba: Cameroon-born and educated in France, Essamba is one of her generation's most acclaimed African women photographers. Her work "lies at the intersection of the social/gender and the artistic field" and challenges stereotypical representations of women. Read more here.

Abdoulaye Konaté: This Malian artist is a graphic designer, painter, and sculptor who now serves as principal of the Conservatoire des Arts et Métiers Multimédia Balla Fasseké Kouyaté in Bamako, Mali. Read more here.

Soly Cissé: This Senegal-based artist is a mixed-media painter and sculptor and is one of his country's most celebrated artists. His work, inspired and influenced by his upbringing during Senegal's period of social and political unrest, "intuitively explores notions of duality and repetition; tradition and modernity; the spiritual and the secular." Read more here.

Barthélémy Toguo: Toguo is a multiple-disciplinary artist who was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Literature for his "ongoing engagement and creativity" to help develop the arts and culture in France. His work addresses "migration, colonialism, race, exile, and displacement," and his collections are displayed in several galleries, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. Read more here.

M. Florine Démosthène: US-born artist and recipient of numerous awards and grants, her works can be seen in various public and private collections worldwide, including the National Museum for African American History and Culture. Her works "portray otherworldly dystopian characteristics through multi-media and collage" and consider the "Black female body a myriad of collective experiences." Read more here.