Ta-coumba Aiken - Rhythm Patterns

Gallery 13 presents work by artist Ta-coumba Aiken at the Aloft Minneapolis: In the Lobby and Lounge.


“Ta-coumba Aiken makes art to heal the hearts and souls of communities. Anyone who views his work will see the complex layers, lines, color and repeated image that can be found in any indigenous culture.  Patterning and repetition are there to help you remember or give you guidance. Ta-coumba offers his work as a friendly gesture and maybe there might be something, in his work, for you if it’s your worst day or it's your best day.” 

About the Artist
Ta–coumba is a Twin Cities artist, arts administrator, educator and community activist who focuses on public art and collaborative projects. His “rhythm paintings” on paper and canvas are loose and lively. He has participated in the creation of over 300 murals and public art sculptures with themes ranging from local history to the artist's own style of rhythmic pattern and spirit writing. The artist has served on the boards of the Minneapolis Arts Commission, the African American Cultural Arts Center, Forecast Public Arts, and the St. Paul Art Collective and has acted as an advisor on the arts for both the City of St. Paul and the City of Minneapolis. He has been the recipient of awards including a Pollock–Krasner Foundation Fellowship and a Bush Foundation Visual Arts Fellowship. His painting entitled, “Forever Saint Paul” was awarded the Guinness Book World Record for the most Lite-Brite pegs ever used (596,000+) to create a painting. This piece is permanently located in the Saint Paul Union Depot. His works can be found in public and private collections including those of the Walker Art Center, The McKnight Foundation, General Mills, Herbie Hancock, Taj Mahal, and Maya Angelou.