We get comments asking about Turtel Onli and what is the deal with him? Ok. Lets give it a go!
Onli had an impressive career as a major market freelance illustrator. His clients were the likes of PLAYBOY, Paris Metro and many others. This is where he learned how to grow his studio into a indie publishing brand. A production / publishing operation. This is not self-publishing. This is innovative indie-production & publishing!
The current hot trend of Afrofutrism actually came long after Onli introduced a concept called Rhythmism as a future-primitif approach in all of the visual arts. He launched it n Paris in 1978.
While in a few meetings with the late French great, Moebious, of "Fifth Element and Metal Hurlant fame", Onli realized the industry was uptight about Black folks on all levels. He decided to morph his studio to expand the industry to be more like that of music or cuisine. Where Blacks are much better received, appreciated and paid.
This illustration carries a small but vital note about Rhythmism. Below is the first book published by ONLI STUDIOS in 1981. "NOG: The Protector of the Pyramides". It uses the French spelling of pyramids as an homage to Paris, Moebious and the welcomed experience he learned form while living and working in the Bande Dessinee' industry of Paris.
Onli exploded with all of these ideas and products along with amazing illustrations long before Post-Black, Black Lives Matters and of course Afrofuturism. Without funding. With a lot of opposition form many of the same folks and operations who now expose their support and love for Black Lives and Afrofuturism. Fortunately they came around and so many others have got that trend too.
Just saying the facts about this daring forward thinking innovator.
Rhythmism Lives! Indie today: Black Age Forever!
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