African American Influence on Interior Design

In honor of Black History month, we would like to explore the influence of African American culture on interior design. There are so many contributions to the design world that can be attributed to the African American culture and interior design would not be the same without them!

1. Bold colors & patterns- Africans have historically incorporated multicolored patterns of bright colors, geometric shapes, and bold designs in their fabrics. In African culture, colors had symbolic meanings, as well as the combinations of colors or patterns. In African lore, the first pattern was made by two friends who happened to see a spider while hunting. After watching the spider weave its web for days, the friends returned to their tribe and implemented what they had seen.

2. Tribal Masks & Art - Ritual and ceremonial masks were an integral part of African culture. Masks usually have a spiritual and religious meaning which is why they are used in ritual dances and social and religious events. Artists of the masks and those that wore them, were given a special status In most cases, mask-making is an art that is passed on from father to son, along with the knowledge of the symbolic meanings conveyed by such masks. African mask are usually shaped after a human face or some animal's muzzle, but in a more abstract form. The lack of realism in African masks is explained by the fact that most African cultures distinguish the essence of a subject from its looks, and so the essence is what the actual mask represents. Stylish elements in a mask are mandated by tradition and may either identify a specific community or convey specific meanings. Cubism, Fauvism & Expressionism are the arts which  have often taken inspiration from the vast and diverse heritage of African masks and made them into a design standard.

3. Graffiti - More popular in today’s current pop culture, graffiti art can now be seen in interior design. As an emotional expression, graffiti is used to convey messages and feelings. Graffiti can be simple written words or phrases or elaborate works of art. Graffiti can be used to express political and social messages. Although graffiti dates back to cave drawings and even Greece, the modern African American influence is whats has steered graffiti into what it is today, right into the design field. Artists have taken inspiration from the hip hop culture’s tendency to tag, and now the lines are blurred and graffiti has no racial connotation, but more of a youthful connotation.  Artists like Jimme Martin and Anna James are pioneers, creating works of art on furniture, which become statement pieces in an interior space. As such a unique way to express emotions, graffiti is putting its roots down in the design field and will continue to grow like a weed!