ATLANTA — Radcliffe Bailey, an internationally renowned artist from Atlanta whose works highlighted the Black experience historically in America and explored the broader experiences generally of the African diaspora, died this week at 54 years old.
His death reportedly came after a battle with brain cancer.
Bailey grew up in Atlanta, and attended Mays High School. His early inspirations included visits to the High Museum and classes at the Atlanta College of Art.
In 2011 he was featured at the High, one of his most significant exhibitions to that point, for "Radcliffe Bailey: Memory as Medicine." The museum at the time described his themes that probed "American history and memory to encourage healing and transcendence through art."
He was known in part for the use of common objects in his installations, including the keys taken from 400 pianos that punctuated his famed work "Windward Coast."
"Bailey harmonizes an intuitive balance of world history and familial memory," the High Museum noted in 2011. "Through exploration of the past, the present, and the unknown, Bailey layers meaning into his art by layering objects."
"A lone head, painted glittery black, bobs in this expanse, suggesting isolation and the trauma of the slave trade as well as recent natural disasters," the New York Times' Hilarie M. Sheets wrote of Windward Coast in 2011, noting that Bailey also found a way to "(fuse) pain with transcendence."
He told The Times of the piece: "I think about all the music that was probably played on those keys. An ocean is something that divides people. Music is something that connects people. Duke Ellington or Thelonious Monk — it’s a different sound that takes you somewhere else. It’s also about being at peace.”
In a statement, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Bailey had for decades "shaped Atlanta’s cultural landscape through his own unique, creative genius."
"While often bringing the intersectionality of ancestry, race and art to the forefront of a discussion, his talent was both personal and accessible to our community," the mayor said. "“I had the privilege of visiting with him Friday to express Atlanta’s gratitude for all his contributions to our city. Our Administration has been working with his family and team on a fitting way to honor his incredible life and legacy, and we look forward to sharing those details in the near future. My thoughts are with his family and all who knew and loved him.”
Atlanta Public Schools said it was "sending sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of world-renowned artist and Mays HS graduate Radcliffe Bailey, who passed away earlier this week."
"While we mourn his passing, the impact this proud Raider made on the art world will live on forever," the school system said.
Of his hometown Atlanta, Bailey said in a 2011 gallery interview: “Atlanta has this interesting past that makes you want to dig deeper and understand what was once there, even though it may be covered. Sherman burnt down the city. They say when you want to get rid of something, you burn it, but you don’t really get rid of it. I can look out my back door and see a lot."
According to reports, his is survived by his wife Leslie Parks Bailey, who appears in the photo above this article, as well as his two children Olivia and Coles.
