Warrior Plate 1

Sterling Hykes often chose subjects for his enamel plaques and plates that reflect his interest in African art and his African American heritage. This image of an African head of a warrior is seen in profile with wavy stylized hair, decked with various body ornaments, is set against a lush yellow background with the warrior’s shield prominently visible against smaller pictographs and other elements. Hykes’s plate exemplifies his abiding interest in these rich cultural traditions.