COMEDY GOLD | A CALL FOR ARTISTS TO HELP CELEBRATE THE LEGACY OF BLACK COMEDY

Tiffany Haddish by Tyler Clark, Leslie Jones by James Nelson, and Kevin Hart by Minnie Watkins exhibited by Pigment International at the Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Festival in 2022.

There are few cultural forces more powerful — or more misunderstood — than Black comedy. It is a tradition of truth-telling, resistance, and joy that runs from Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor to Eddie Murphy, Wanda Sykes, and Tiffany Haddish. Now, a landmark publishing project is giving visual artists the opportunity to honor that legacy in a wholly original way.

Comedy Gold, the forthcoming coffee table book from 1865 Company, is seeking original portrait artwork celebrating fifty of the most iconic Black comedians of all time. The project by publisher Patrice Davenport's publisher of Celebrations & Libations is designed as both a collectible art object and a cultural statement, pairing the visual arts with one of Black America's most enduring creative traditions.

The roster of subjects reads like a hall of fame: Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Mo'Nique, Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Lawrence, and dozens more — legends whose voices shaped not just comedy, but American culture itself. Each portrait becomes an act of interpretation, an artist's unique response to a comedian's brilliance, timing, and persona.

Submissions are still being accepted, with a revised deadline of June 17, 2026. Artists are encouraged to review the project guidelines and submit their work directly through the official form. This is a rare opportunity to contribute to a publication that will stand as a lasting visual archive of Black comedic genius.

Visit 1865company.com and complete the artist submission form to participate.