Napoleon Jones-Henderson

Napoleon Jones-Henderson and Valerie J. Maynard, whose legacy is stewarded by the Valerie J. Maynard Foundation, were selected as 2024–2026 CARA Fellows for their significant contributions to the transformation of arts ecosystems. Both Jones-Henderson and Maynard showcase lifelong dedication to centering and celebrating Black identities and experiences. Maynard herself was a pivotal figure in the Black Arts Movement, and Jones-Henderson remains one of the last of the original ten members still active in AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists), among other community movements. Working across mediums such as textiles, sculpture, printmaking, and community gathering, both artists’ transformative practices honor Afro-diasporic histories, both familial and cultural, while paving the way for future generations of artists through education.

Napoleon Jones-Henderson (b. 1943, Chicago, Illinois, lives and works in Roxbury, Massachusetts) is a renowned artist known for his long-term commitment to cultural representation and community engagement. A key figure in AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists), founded in 1968, as well as other intergenerational networks of Black artists, his work creates images inspired by the lived experiences and cultures of communities in the African diaspora. Beyond his artistic creations, he has been an influential educator and mentor, holding various academic positions and engaging in community-building through art. The support of CARA’s Fellowship will allow for the continuation of Jones-Henderson’s practice through the multi-media expansion of his ongoing series Requiem for Our Ancestors and the creation of portraits of his family, which he calls a visual memoir.

Portrait courtesy the artist and Black Artists of Boston Project