Fine Art Salon

Alonzo Davis, a trailblazing artist and advocate for Black creative expression, died this week at age 82. Best known as the co-founder of Brockman Gallery, one of the first Black-owned art spaces in the U.S., Davis leaves behind a legacy of cultural empowerment and artistic innovation that reshaped the landscape of American art.

Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in 1942, Davis grew up immersed in the rhythms of the African diaspora, an influence that later permeated his vibrant mixed-media works. After studying at Pepperdine University and earning an MFA from Otis College of Art and Design, he and his brother, Dale Brockman Davis, launched Los Angeles’ Brockman Gallery in 1967. At a time when Black artists faced systemic exclusion from mainstream institutions, the gallery became a sanctuary, showcasing luminaries such as David Hammons, Betye Saar, and John Outterbridge. Beyond exhibitions, it hosted poetry readings, performances, and community dialogues, anchoring itself as a hub for the Black Arts Movement.

Davis’ own artistry—spanning painting, sculpture, and public installations—often blended African, Caribbean, and Pacific Islander motifs with modernist abstraction. His textured bamboo-and-bead “Window Series” and large-scale architectural pieces earned acclaim for bridging cultural heritage with contemporary design. Parallel to his studio practice, Davis mentored emerging artists and taught at institutions like California State University, Long Beach, emphasizing art’s role in social change.

“Alonzo didn’t just create art; he created opportunities,” said historian Dr. Bridget Cooks, noting his “unwavering commitment to equity.” The California African American Museum, which hosted a 2020 retrospective of his work, praised him as a “quiet revolutionary” who redefined visibility for marginalized creators.

As we approach Black History Month, Davis’ death underscores the enduring urgency of his mission: to carve spaces where Black artistry thrives unapologetically. His gallery’s ethos—radical in its simplicity—remains a touchstone: art as both mirror and catalyst for community.