Born and raised in Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Robert Earl Paige emerged during the Black Arts Movement and became a member of AfriCOBRA (African Commune of Bad Relevant Artists)—a collective that redefined Black aesthetics in Chicago and beyond. The group centered unapologetic Black identity, vibrant color theory, and community representation at a time when mainstream art institutions excluded those narratives. Paige helped shape what we now recognize as contemporary Black art.
Formally trained at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, his professional career included work with:Skidmore, Owings & MerrillSears, Roebuck & Company and Fiorio Milano design house in Italy
In 1973, Paige was invited to West Africa by Sears, Roebuck & Company to design what would become one of his most iconic textile collections: The Dakkabar Collection, inspired by Dakar, Senegal. The collection—featuring African-inspired fabrics and home furnishings—was distributed to 126 Sears stores across 56 U.S. cities.
This was more than design—it was cultural strategy. Sears sought to connect with African American consumers by incorporating Black cultural aesthetics into mainstream retail environments. Paige’s work stood at the center of that shift.
Today, at 90 years old, Paige continues to mentor and teach emerging artists in Chicago. His residencies at the Hyde Park Art Center and the DuSable Museum of African American History reflect his enduring commitment to education and cultural preservation.
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