Natiq Jalil
On behalf of our staff, board, members, and friends at Associated Artists of Pittsburgh, we send our condolences to the family and friends of Natiq Jalil, who passed away on November 26, 2022
Natiq was a talented artist, friend, and an active and vital member of our artist community. From this video for our 9 Artists 9 Neighborhood series as a new AAP member in 2018 to his most recent work with The Coloured Section, Natiq will be missed throughout Pittsburgh and beyond. He poured deeply into our arts community.
If you are able, please support his wife, Crystal, and the rest of Natiq’s family by donating to a GoFundMe in his honor.
You can read Natiq’s obituary below, or by clicking here.
On Saturday, November 26, 2022, Natiq Jalil passed on and joined his ancestors. An incredible artist, loyal husband and father, devoted son, and brother, Natiq will be missed by the many that knew him and his craft. His legacy will live on through his many works of art, fond memories, and the tangible reach he had on the community.
He is survived by his loving wife, Crystal Noel Jalil of Pittsburgh, PA; his daughter, Nasim Sanaa Jalil of Denver, CO; his son, Malachi Jovanni Smith of Denver, CO; devoted parents, Catherine Burch and Thomas (Sabrina) Burch of Montgomery, AL; two brothers, Thomas Burch and Marlon Burch; two sisters, Sarai Burch and Latoya Burch, a nephew, Tsion Burch; a grandmother, Dorothy Curtis of Montgomery, AL; seven uncles, nine aunts, a host of cousins, and members of his Art Collective, The Coloured Section.
He was born in Montgomery, AL on September 20, 1975. As a child, he underwent a series of podiatric procedures. Once he persevered and started walking, he chose to run, and soon thereafter went on to dance and teach others how to do so as well. He attended Hinkley High School in Aurora, CO where he was a member of the band and sang with the school's traveling choir. All the while, his love of drawing was constant, and would later become insatiable. After graduation, Natiq's love of the arts found him participating in Spoken Word, under the moniker "The Black Child"; he performed his spoken word at a cafe in Denver, CO called The Brotha Jeff. As a young artist, Natiq traveled nationally, from New York to California, and a myriad of states before putting down roots in Pittsburgh, PA. While working a series of odd jobs, his talent for painting, specifically with watercolors, exploded and Natiq began opening for various venues around the city, including but not limited to, The Shadow Lounge, The August Wilson Center, and Pittsburgh RAW Artist. He would say his first successful show was titled "Unfinished Business" in 2013; a tribute to those who had ever uttered he had an inability to "finish" the things he started. This would be the first in a series of successful openings, exhibits, events, and public art projects.
Birthed out of the dream of his late mentor, George Gist, Natiq also started The Coloured Section Black Artists’ Collective as a way to train and promote Black artists in the city of Pittsburgh. Through countless hours of ideation, curation, and development, Natiq worked tirelessly alongside Black artists to liven up the city of Pittsburgh and shine lights on the hidden talent that resides here. As an avid anime fan (his favorites were Attack on Titan and JJK), foodie, and extraordinary Blerd, Natiq often pulled inspiration from anime, cooking, and often discussed other thematic show elements with members of The Coloured Section. Using these elements, and scientific elements from his undergraduate thesis work, he challenged not only us but himself to push the boundaries of Pittsburgh art and AfroFuturism. He often broke conventional artistic rules and was big on challenging his mentees (or Padawans as he often referred to us as) to find ways to do the same while carving our own path in the art world. Natiq was a premiere leader, advocate, and always made the impossible possible. Through four exhibitions with The Coloured Section, Natiq lived out George Gist’s dream of creating vibrant Black art alongside the next generation of artists that create the future, a Black future, an art-filled future.
In life, Natiq loved uplifting others, creating spaces to cultivate not only his talents, but that of our Black youth, and developing unique and original exhibits with his loving wife, Crystal. Living up to the meaning of his name, “Revered Spokesman”, Natiq gave his all to ensure that his greatness and the greatness of his community would have far reach. His warming and affirming physical presence will be dearly missed in the arts community, but his indomitable spirit will continue to live on and propel the arts, his communities, and most importantly Black artists across the world forward.
A quick google search will show you that his name means this: Natiq is a name of Arabic origin that means “spokesman” or “articulate”
Jalil is a name of Arabic origin that means greatness or revered.
You can read about Natiq's triumphs and artistry at: www.artofnatiq.com.
You can also read his words from his latest interview with Shout Out Social:
https://shoutoutsocial.com/meet-natiq-jalil-visual-artist-activist-and-founder-of-the-coloured-section-black-artists-collective/
Please find information regarding the visitation and funeral service below.
VISITATION
Friday December 9, 2022
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
House of Law, Inc.
9406 Frankstown Road
Penn Hills, Pennsylvania 15235
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday
December 9, 2022
5:00 PM
House of Law, Inc.
9406 Frankstown Road
Penn Hills, Pennsylvania 15235
Official obituary for Natiq Jalil to come soon.