Depicting a figure dressed in black and donning a black beret, Amoako Boafo’s Black Hat (2021) summons the powerful, strong, and militant images of the Black Panthers, alluding to both the Civil Rights era and the ongoing fight for social justice. By using a mixture of brown and blue tones to render the figure’s skin—the latter associated with both the color of royalty and a bruise—Boafo perhaps suggests both the man’s importance as well as his vulnerability. As with his other works, the painting evokes the phrase, “the eyes are the window to the soul,” as the sitter looks directly at the viewer with an equally confident and knowing stare.⁠ ⁠ Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks is on view through October 2, 2022. Admission to the Museum is free—plan your visit and learn more through the link in our bio.⁠ ⁠ Artwork: Amoako Boafo, Black Hat, 2021. Oil on canvas, 47.2 x 39.4 inches. Courtesy the artist. Photos by Sean Fleming (@s.m.fleming) and Victoria Nguyen (@vittorianguyen).⁠ ⁠ #AmoakoBoafo #atCAMH