William Y. Cooper (1934-2016)

Growing up surrounded by nurturing, loving, and caring women, Cooper had a strong admiration for Black women that carried into his painting practice. He regularly depicted Black women in his compositions, wanting to honor their dynamic beauty, resilience, and softness. Feminine Unmasked is one of the few series of works Cooper created. He utilizes his colorful palette and fragmented geometric style to create sensual depictions of different female subjects in the nude, celebrating their vulnerability as a source of admiration, strength, and power.