In “Heroes: My Heroes Actually Have Real Superpowers,” Los Angeles-based artist Bart Cooper invites you to experience the first volume of what being a superhero looks like through the lens of popular culture, and what better way to do that than by paying homage to the most popular comic book characters and American history’s leading ladies of justice and change. In this solo exhibition, Heroes brings us face-to-face with ten powerful women who stand united in their quest for a more free and equal world. Bart invites you to reflect on the shared characteristics and superpowers of these heroes, as he strategically intertwines the real with the fictitious characters of modern-day heroism through the contemporary use of mixed media. His selection for the first volume are in no doubt powerful women who incited change through bold acts of courage, grit, and grace, and very easily matches up to Marvel and DC’s version of heroes with similar backstories of supernatural powers. Their willingness to fight for what is right and to endure hardships and immense challenges showed resounding strength and resilience. These women had powers and practiced them rigorously, and not only for themselves but for others.

The Silver Room welcomes you to experience Heroes: My Heroes Actually Have Real Superpowers on view
November 17, 2023 - January 21, 2024.

Opening Reception: Friday, November 17 | 6pm-8pm

Barthelomew (Bart) Cooper is a contemporary artist based in Los Angeles, California, with roots in West Africa, Liberia. From a young age, Cooper was inspired by the vibrant colors and breathtaking scenery of his homeland, leading him to visually record the world around him. In the face of civil war, Cooper immigrated to the United States at the young age of six years old. Where he would later study fine art, sculpture, and graphic design.Cooper's work is heavily influenced by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci, American illustrator Norman Rockwell, and American artist Ernie Barnes. His signature mixed medium, acrylic style merges traditional African values with a westernized American culture, and has gained him a number of celebrity clients and private collectors both nationally and internationally.In Cooper's own words, "I am a creator, put here to challenge physical, mental, and spiritual growth through my art. The foundation of my work is all about the message of love. Each piece engages in a conversation with the viewer's soul, provokes thought, changes the narrative, and inspires evolution." Cooper's work is a reflection of his own experiences growing up with customary African values in a westernized American culture, and invites viewers to engage with and consider the intersections between tradition and technology.