Jae Jarrell is a founding member of the AfriCOBRA art movement. Her work, Gents Great Coat, was executed in 1973, and was inspired by influences from African cultures to create a garment that would become a symbol of 1960s and 1970s black radical culture.  Over the span of five decades this garment has been shown at historic exhibitions including AfriCOBRA III, FESTAC 1977, The Freedom Principle…, and Nation Time… Perfectly tailored with exceptional skill, the work goes beyond the borders of high fashion and intertwines itself with the revolutionary aesthetic principles of AfriCOBRA. This rare garment is part of Jae Jarrell’s seminal body of work and is comprised of weavings and appliqués on suede.

Using elements of African art, AfriCOBRA sought ways to reflect positive representations of the African American experience and of the African diaspora. The artists and members incorporated recognizable aesthetics of color and pattern into their contemporary works, placing heritage and pride in the forefront of discussion.  During the late 60s early 70s, the African dashiki had been adapted by many of the Black radical movements, re-contextualizing the garment as a symbol of pride and heritage.  Gents Great Coat  acknowledges this history with its own unique style. With material to adapt to the cold Chicago winters (cowhide suede), and a reserved sophistication in its design,  Gents Great Coat intentionally evokes the language of revolution.

Uniquely, the seams and stitching on  Gents Great Coat  are visible from the outside. This was, in fact, the first time that the artist executed this method, skillfully exposing the white interior of the cowhide, to create the elegant white lines that carry our eye across the garment. The smooth interior of the coat is lined with remnants chosen by Jarrell to complement the exterior stitching, pattern and overall design. Gents Great Coat  is a thoughtful work of art that combines the radical thinking of the 60s and 70s with skill and style, cementing Jae Jarrell’s work in the canon of important 20th century American art.

Jae Jarrell (b. 1935, Cleveland, OH), is a fashion designer, painter, sculptor, and a founding member of AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists) *. She is married to AfriCOBRA cofounder, Wadsworth Jarrell. AfriCOBRA, founded on the South Side of Chicago in 1968 by a collective of young Black artists, created one of the most distinctive visual voices in 20th Century American art through the exploration of their interest in Transnational Black. The characteristics of the classic AfriCOBRA look are vibrant “Cool Ade” colors, bold text, and positive representation of Black people, essential to everyday life in the community from which the movement emerged. AfriCOBRA established a philosophical and aesthetic foundation for the Black Arts movement of the 1960s, and 70s. The founders’ vision has its roots in the streets, classrooms, studios, and living rooms of the South Side of Chicago, yet its impact has extended around the world, influencing artists such as Kerry James Marshall and Kehinde Wiley. Throughout her career, Jae has celebrated the struggles, strengths, and beauty of African Americans in her art.

Jae Jarrell is known for her revolution-themed clothing. Her garments exalt black families and culture and are worn by the artist in her daily life. Her grandfather was a professional tailor, and her uncle was a haberdasher and sold the notions needed for sewing. Jae taught herself how to make her own clothing and reveled in the fact that her fashion was unique and had a secret vintage past, she has deftness for combining a variety of media. Akin to the core values of the AfriCOBRA collective, jazz occupies a global presence and demonstrates to the world the creativity and innovation belonging to Black artists.

Exhibitions include Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power organized by Tate Modern which traveled to Brooklyn Museum of Art, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Broad, and ended at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Jae Jarrell was also featured in We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women 1965-1985, AfricaCOBRA: Nation Time an official collateral event of the 58th Venice Biennale, Cleveland Museum of Art, Smart Museum of Art, ICA Boston, and MoCA North Miami. Other recent exhibitions The Time Is Now! Art Worlds of Chicago’s South Side 1960-1980 at the Smart Museum of Art, the Toronto Biennial of Art, The Freedom Principle: Experiments in Art and Music, 1965 to Now at MCA Chicago, ICA Philadelphia, and The Studio Museum in Harlem, and Heritage: Wadsworth and Jae Jarrell at The Cleveland Museum of Art. Jae is in institutional collections including the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Rennie Collection, and the Smart Museum of Art. She lives and works in Cleveland, OH and attended the Art Institute of Chicago and Howard University.

*Five AfriCOBRA Founding Members:
Jeff Donaldson, Jae Jarrell, Wadsworth Jarrell, Barbara Jones-Hogu and Gerald Williams.