Craig Freeman

Craig Freeman (aka Mentep Bey)’s work is a testament to the urban dynamism of New York City, where he has lived and worked since 1985. He creates pen and ink drawings, acrylic paintings, and assemblage wooden sculptures inspired by American Abstract Expressionism and street art. Although strongly influenced by current social and political themes, particularly those affecting African American communities, Bey does not limit his artistic gifts exclusively to social issues. He explores the depths of spatial movement through multi-layered intertwining lines, resulting in dynamic imagery that largely rejects the ninety-degree angle in favor of highly individual, malleable compositions. Angular, architectonic structures espouse the delicate softness of undulating forms; while a palette of richly saturated colors lends striking visual power to his designs. Often, he incorporates logograms as well as scriptural imagery and symbols into his work. Bey received his B.F.A. in painting from Pratt Institute.

Pratt Institute