Spotlight: Pittsburgh’s Natiq Jalil Talks New Projects, Advice, and Arts Equity
Natiq Jalil lives in the future. His Afrofuturist artwork, newly launched Black Artist Collective “The Coloured Section,” and his involvement with the Black Arts Action Committee are all setting the stage for a better tomorrow. Read on to get to know Natiq, his passions, his projects, and his advice for budding artists.
Natiq Jalil is an emerging artist who specializes in watercolor. As a self-taught artist, he believes that “true art begins during those moments between being asleep and being awake.” Natiq’s work is prized by many private collectors and can be seen in homes and businesses across the East Coast, throughout the Midwest in the US, and worldwide.
His work is mixed media combines watercolor, ink, oil, and acrylic paint. Generally, each piece features a strong female figure (though he also paints men) as the focus while incorporating various organic shapes, vivid color washes, and beautiful gestural line work. His goal is to bring out the cerebral nature of the content.
Read about the many galleries and countries where Natiq’s work is featured on his website.
How would you describe your artistic style? Where does your passion for art come from?
My style of art is Afrofuturism. More and more, I find myself painting my vision of what and who we will be in the future, and not necessarily the way we are in the now. I feel this is super important for Black people, as historically, we have been viewed in terms of history – of slavery and Jim Crow – but scarcely in terms of the future. In sci-fi and fantasy, we are curated into stories in a way that makes it seem like our presence is negligent or non-existent. I would like to help change this. My current passion for art stems from this goal, and the goal of making paths for young Black artists who are trying to break into the art world and are finding it to be a challenge.
How can art lovers best enjoy and support your work at this time? Are there any cool projects coming up that you’re excited about?
People can support my work by going to my website or The Coloured Section store and purchase my work. They can also visit Redfishbowl in Lawrenceville to support me and the other amazing residents there. I'm excited about several projects that are in the works. I've partnered with The Corner and the Ujamaa Collective to put on monthly pop-up shows at The Corner in Oak Hill. It is called “Meet Me At The Corner,” and will feature artists who are associated with Ujamaa Collective and from the Black Artist Collective I started, called The Coloured Section.
I am also excited to get started on my new mural project with Alison Zapata through Duolingo in East Liberty. It is a very ambitious project and will be completed in the coming months.
The project I am most proud of is The Coloured Section Black Artists' Collective. It was first conceived by my late mentor, George Gist, and is my way of honoring his legacy. Its purpose is to make paths for artists who traditionally would have a tougher challenge entering the art world through the front door. We have many upcoming seasonal exhibits planned that tackle various topics ranging from ancestor veneration to mental health, to Black people's role in environmental activism and cultivating an equilibrium with the planet we inhabit. Information concerning this will be posted on our website.
We are so grateful to witness your perspectives and voice as part of the Black Arts Action Committee. What do you hope to see come as a result of this group of Black arts leaders?
I am very honored to be a part of the Black Artists Action Committee. I hope to help develop resources to specifically help emerging and mid-career Black artists, and to help cement the legacies of their more established counterparts. I am hoping that the initiatives we begin will lead to long term success for future Black artists in Pittsburgh and beyond.
Do you have any advice for other artists who are learning and growing their practice independently? Anything they should lean into, or steer clear of?
My advice for artists who are looking to build a fruitful career is to understand that the fine writing at the bottom of the page reads: Art is a business. Seek out mentors who are further along in their careers than you. Learn about their business practices as well as their artistic methods. They should look to develop daily practices to grow their art while seeking a work/life balance, and also take the time to learn what will make them happiest in their work. Commissions aren't for everyone. Mural work isn't for everyone. The goal is to learn what will work for them and allow them to stay in love with their work.
What do you most want Pittsburghers to know about your art or your experience as an artist in Pittsburgh?
I would like Pittsburghers to know that my art is here and that it is a vision of the future of what art in Pittsburgh can be. There is no one way that art works in Pittsburgh. There isn't just one formula. There are a multitude of artists living in Pittsburgh. There is something for everyone.
I hope that in time, there won't be competition between the artists in this city, and that the artists of color are treated with equity and fairness and are not curated into events for the purpose of seeming diverse. My experience with this city's art world has been both beautiful and ugly. I am fortunate that I have an art style that appeals to such a wide variety of demographics. I've watched many talented artists here get a very different kind of treatment than I received, as Pittsburgh sometimes only reserves limited spaces for artists of color. I hope we can help change this, in time.
Natiq Jalil can be found on Facebook and Instagram as @artofnatiq.