Recalling historical and contemporary events in his depictions of Black American men and women, Henry Taylor actively works to merge the personal and political. Using vibrant colors to bring bold and loose brushstrokes to life, Taylor comments on the larger issues of violence within and against Black communities in the United States. Homage to a Brother is a portrait of Sean Bell, who in 2006 was shot and killed by plainclothes detectives on the eve of his wedding in Queens, New York. Referencing found images of Bell’s neighborhood, Taylor depicts Bell as a larger-than-life figure, and both memorializes and celebrates his life.