MALIK SENEFERU: A Retrospective
Malik Seneferu A RETROSPECTIVE
Malik Seneferu has spent the last 35 years instructing and leading an array of artistic and cultural expressions throughout the Black diaspora in San Francisco and beyond. During this time, Seneferu has developed a multidisciplinary body of work stemming from his early, firsthand experiences dealing with prejudice and severe injustice, as witnessed in and around his community. In his continued pursuit to support underserved populations, he addresses these issues through his life and art, and has made a difference in the hearts and minds of many.
A closer look at Seneferu’s artwork offers a broader story of his ability to overcome obstacles while fighting for social justice, as can be seen in several of his works, including Broth’as Untitled, Black Fist, Angela Davis, and Maya’s Revenge. At times described as reflecting the aesthetics of magical realism, Seneferu’s art embraces a commitment to the concept of beauty through his paintings, sculptures, assemblages, and digital reproductions, many of which are on view.
Presented by the 31st annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, the exhibition showcases a diverse body of work that is divided into thematic sections: explosions in color; legacy series—honoring our elders, sculptural works; an assemblage series; and reproductions of
original artworks. As a whole, Seneferu’s canon demonstrates a masterly exploration of socially conscious images and reflections of the artist’s life.
Bio
Malik Seneferu has dedicated his life to advancing social justice and Afrocentric resiliency in his community and beyond. Seneferu is a self-taught, San Francisco-based artist whose award-winning visual arts practice includes painting, sculpture, mixed media projects, and public art commissions.
Seneferu began his career as a youth working with resident services in the Bayview Hunters Point. He reflects fondly on his explorations at the San Francisco Public Library when he was a youngster in search about knowledge of his ancestors, where he enjoyed a safe, quiet place to read. Malik currently works with youth at the Phoenix Project Collaborative, where he is focused on providing guidance through life coaching for those struggling with traumatic life events.
Seneferu has created over 10,000 artworks spanning a broad range of genres and mediums during his lifetime career and is consistently adding to his impressive canon.
He has staged exhibitions at the African American Art and Cultural Complex and the Jazz Heritage Center, where he offers social and creative support to the Bay Area community at large. He is currently Artist-in-Residence with the San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Innovation and was a recipient of the 2023 Creative Corps Grant.
