A powerful voice in contemporary art, Yashua Klos uses his craft to weave together history, personal narratives, and social commentary. With roots in Detroit and an artistic base in the Bronx, Klos’ work explores key moments in America’s racial unrest, focusing on Black resilience in the face of adversity. His most recent work is a poignant reflection on the unrest for Black justice, including the Detroit uprising of 1967, a turning point in his family’s history.
The Detroit riots broke out after a police raid on an unlicensed bar, known as the “Blind Pig,” in the early hours of July 23, 1967. Police had expected only a few patrons, but they found over 80 people celebrating the return of GIs from Vietnam. The decision to arrest everyone sparked tensions and led to one of the most violent uprisings in U.S. history, sparked by racial inequality, economic crises, and systematic segregation. Klos’ own family, who lived in Detroit at the time, witnessed the effects of the chaos.
Klos’ work is not only about reflecting this pivotal moment, but also how black communities, including his own, rebuilt afterward. His mixed-media pieces, which incorporate woodcuts, paper, paint, and colored pencils, are full of symbolism. Wildflowers native to Michigan are a recurring motif in his art, representing what Klos describes as “defiant resilience.” These blooms, sprouting even under the harshest conditions, reflect the enduring strength of his family and black Americans in general.
In his work, Klos often depicts the hands of the women in his family, using them as symbols of resistance and self-care. He recognizes their role in holding the family together—organizing family gatherings, raising children, and cooking for celebrations and funerals. “The hands I depict are their hands,” Klos says, emphasizing the important role black women play in creating space for their families, even at the expense of their own health.
Klos’ use of geometric patterns and floral imagery combines themes of growth, determination, and breaking through societal constraints. His pieces ask fundamental questions about the pressures faced by black Americans, particularly black women, to prioritize work over their own well-being. The vines and flowers that weave through his portraits reflect this tension, growing and blooming without asking permission—just like the wildflowers they inspire.
Currently, works by Klos are in Diversity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, until September 22, and Duplicate ID at the Wright Museum in Detroit, on view through October 20. His thought-provoking exploration of black identity will also culminate in his first solo exhibition at Vielmetter Los Angeles in spring 2025.
For more information about Yashua Klos’ work, visit his website and follow his updates on Instagram.
