Vortex and Oubliette I-III Artwork

Anthony Carlton Cooke's art is characterized by an emphasis on line, shape, and multiple perspectives. His work concerns nature, the environment, the juxtaposition of beauty and unease, and psychological and physical transformation. Storytelling forms the core of Cooke’s artistic practice. He uses symbolism and repetition alongside his original poetry and epigrams. Objects, colors and line patterns reappear throughout a piece or a series of works, suggesting the contradictory truth of change and interconnectedness. In these allegories, art and text are inseparable for meaning to emerge. Rather than having art illustrate a poem or a poem describing a work of art, Cooke places art and poetry in a symbiotic relationship. Cooke's influences also cross disciplinary boundaries. Illustration, still life, printmaking, emblem books, illuminated manuscripts, scientific art, poetry, film and drama, even word puzzles, all contribute to the formation and evolution of his artistic practice. RESIDENCIES 2023 - Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, Amherst, VA, USA. AWARDS AND GRANTS 2023 - 50th Anniversary Fellowship for Artists of Color, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.