Radcliffe Bailey’s painting 'Luther Goines Cosmos' masterfully combines various mediums to create an enigmatic black and white composition that invites interpretation. At the center, a negative photograph of a chandelier symbolizes achievement, wealth, and high societal status. Beneath this, the silhouette of a head integrates natural elements like leaves with symbols, numbers, geometrical shapes, and abstract forms. These components are rich with symbolism and history, resonating within a contemporary context.

Radcliffe Bailey (1968 – 2023) was a celebrated American artist known for his mixed-media work that explores themes of history, race, and memory. Drawing inspiration from his African American heritage, Bailey's art often incorporated found materials, photographs, and historical artifacts, creating powerful narratives that reflect on the collective and personal past. Bailey’s distinguished career includes numerous exhibitions and his works are held in many prestigious museum collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY; the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C.; the Art Institute of Chicago, IL; High Museum of Art in Atlanta, GA; and Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, TX, among many others.