The themes of loss and uncertainty might dominate the highly anticipated Black Panther sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but that has not dampened the triumphant, Afrocentric setting of the fictional kingdom. In fact, making a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo appearance are five designs from the Ethiopian-American furniture designer Jomo Tariku, who also unveiled one of them in person at Salon Art + Design 2022 in New York.
For his silver-screen appearance, Tariku worked directly with set designers Lisa Morgan, Molly Ebner, and Academy Award-winner Hannah Beachler. Respected for his ability to translate his experience of Africa’s diverse culture into functional objects, Tariku has recurrently drawn from historical structures, traditional furniture, colours, artefacts, landscapes and hairstyles when creating his work.
Characterised by its modernity, Tariku’s furniture designs have won him numerous accolades, including the 2022 Maker Award from the Black Artists + Designers Guild. His work has also been featured in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Los Angeles Contemporary Museum of Art, and most recently, the Baltimore Museum of Art.
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