Meet Dr. Halima Taha, Author and Professor of African American Art at Bloomfield College

By Bloomfield College student, Quassan Castro

Dr. Halima Taha is renowned in art circles for an exuberant personality that is just as memorable as the creative art she appraises. This semester, Taha has brought her celebrated personality and artistic eye to Bloomfield College where she is teaching a course on African American Art.

“This is my first semester at Bloomfield College and it has been an honor and privilege to participate and contribute to this community,” Taha says. “I have an incredible class of bright, capable and insightful students who have convinced me that when they graduate from Bloomfield, they will become leaders in their fields of study and within the communities they participate.

“They are all trailblazers in their families and communities, and I admire their tenacity, dedication and effort in my class.” 

Students have nothing but praise for the new addition to the BC faculty.

“She allows us to develop our own identities in relation to how we feel, how we think, how we see the material or challenges that are presented to us. We are able to grow as individuals,” said student Christina Serpe. 

BC faculty members are also big fans of Taha.

“The characteristics that Dr. Taha embodies as a teacher are the same ones that make her a caring, thoughtful human being,” says Nancy Bacci, BC’s art department Chairman. “Her mission is to show the world why art is important to our souls.”

In 1999, Taha's best-selling book, “Collecting African American Art: Works on Paper and Canvas,” covered a topic that has rarely been explored. Today, the book has become a popular how-to for collecting, protecting and appraising African American art.  Taha has made appearances on Fox News and Good Day News and PBS featured her book as a membership incentive.

“My book affirmed the aesthetic and historic value of African American visual culture as an asset and commodity at a time when African American visual culture was being treated as an unwanted step child,” Taha says.

Taha is currently President of halima ink, a professional arts and education company that works with corporate, civic and academic organizations as well as individuals.  Halima ink specializes in art engagements, collection management and appraisal services. She has appraised the collections of many collectors, including patrons of many prestigious museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Newark Museum, The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Museum of Modern Art, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The High Museum of Art, The Smithsonian Museum, The Corcoran Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, and the National Gallery of Art.

Taha’s love of art began as a child growing up in New York City where regular visits to museums helped her develop an appreciation for visual arts. The streets of historic Harlem, as well as Central Park, also inspired a love of sound, dance and artistic vision, Taha says.

Her passion for collecting came naturally, she says.

“I, like many people, began collecting dolls, toys jewelry, clothing, posters, books, and music as a part of my everyday life.” she says. “I didn’t actually begin to collect art until I graduated from college, when I was 21 years old.  My first piece was a photograph by Frank Stewart called ‘The Chicago Wedding Reception’.”

Taha was co-owner of the Onyx Art Gallery, the first gallery in Gramercy Park to sell abstract art by African American artists. She acquired unique pieces on canvas and paper by a number of famous artists such as Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, Elizabeth Catlett and Terry Adkins.

Acquiring education has been just as critical as acquiring art for Taha. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, she earned her masters in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at New York University.  Later, she earned her doctorate at Shepperton University in London.

In addition to her career, Taha is raising a nine-year old-son, to whom she's passing down her love for art. She’s also working on another book on collecting, as well as her memoir.

“God is the best artist,” Taha says. “He inspires me to continue to strive to become my best self and lead by example.”