Ray Anthony Barrett's interdisciplinary practice is situated at the intersection of art and gastronomy. Since 2018, Mr. Barrett’s pop-up, CINQVÉ, has been devoted to tracing the evolution of Soul Food from California to its West African origins. GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN, a project commissioned by Active Cultures, traces a seven-month journey across the varied landscapes of the Western states. This multifaceted endeavor—spanning writing, research, film, and cooking— unfolded over the course of two years. The project interrogates the evolution of agricultural and land practices and the impact of dispossession and colonialism on foodways, tracing its roots from settler colonialism to present day modes of capitalism and overconsumption. Drawings paintings, sculptures, photos, and quilts elaborate on themes explored through field studies.
His projects have been featured at Gagosian, Beverly Hills, Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, The Underground Museum, Dak’Art: African Contemporary Art Biennale in Dakar Senegal, and his work has been profiled in Hyperallergic, Compound Butter, and the Los Angeles Times.