"NOG Emerges" 2021 Copyright 2021 Turtel Onli

"NOG Emerges" 2021 Copyright 2021 Turtel Onli
Inspired by "NOG" being the Future-Primitif face of the blockbuster group exhibition at the change making, trend setting Museum of Contemporary Art, Summer / Fall 2021 called "Chicago Comics: 1960 Until Now", curated by Dan Nadel. . NOG was mural sized on the MCA's outer wall near the door to its Museum Store which featured NOG merchandise in the form of a Tote Bag, post cards, a ever-cool NOG Sketch Book, plus autographed copies of "Tales From The Rhyhthmic Zone", the Graphic Novel that includes expanded versions of the original NOG stories. So Rhythmistic! All artwork on this blog by Prof. Onli is Copyright 2023 Turtel Onli , and other dates. All Rights Protected & not to be remixed, rebooted or used commercially without a signed agreement with Prof. Onli.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

FREEDOM: Rhythm, & Sound! Onli created the landmark Rhythmistic cover for "Together Alone" which opens this amazing book of revolutio0nary jazz album cover art.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

You are invited!!!!  Dec. 13th 2014, The Trading Post Gift Shop of the Du Sable Museum of African American History in Chicago will be hosting a signing and conversation with Prof. Turtel Onli. Onli will be signing his new publication, "Punkin's Imagination", children's activity book, along with "Tales From The Rhythmic Zone", a collector's graphic novel trade book,  Time: Noon until 4pm. Address: 5700 south Cottage Grove Ave.  in Chicago's picturesque Washington Park. Museum admission charged.



Thursday, November 27, 2014

In the Rhythmic Zone! ONLI STUDIOS....Chicago! USA
Wiki Link!
 In times past, Onli was an illustrator for hot innovative magazines such as OUI. OUI was published by Playboy to reach the needs of a hot, cooler more innovative market.  Onli was assigned to the "Prevu" section that regularly covered entertainment and Rock Stars.  Here, OUI features a "Black Woman" on its Christmas cover. How future thinking is that positioning of Black beauty, sex and the traditional international holiday in 1974?
This issue's "Prevu" section included a revue of Davie Bowie's tradition from rock star to theatrical performance star.  Onli's illustration captured the essence of this process.  Where were you in 1974?

Monday, November 24, 2014

Plan to plan......or plan to fail....when you fail to plan.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Monday, November 3, 2014

When a DVD performance of Blues musicians in Chicago jamming with the Rolling Stones in 1981 inspires a Japanese youth to visualize one of the key Bluesman as her "surrogate "God Father" and she muses these ideas in her sketchbook. She later, at age 22, visits Chicago the Summer of 2014, attends Blues Fests, Bars and clubs, in search of his essence and meets The Father of the Black Age during this sojourn. She secures a publishing deal with ONLI STUDIOS and crafts the first ever release of the art-book.....in the near future. She draws the Blues for you!

We will let you know when the product is available for collecting.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Dr. Ellis and Prof. Onli recently at the Gala Benefit Opening for the Harlem Fine Arts Show at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago.  Dr. Ellis is a brilliant arts educator and the Director of Creative Engagement at ONLI STUDIOS.

Friday, October 31, 2014

Putting Black in the unexpected.....this is the Onli way!

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Onli  contends that the ancient cave painters, Nubians and Egyptians were the forerunners of mythical visual illustrated stories that laid the foundation to the modern Graphic Novel.

He often appreciates the rigor involved in creating an impressive graphic novel expands the skill set and visual vocabulary of many practicing fine or commercial artists. He uses narratives to blend figurative abstracted treatments in variable future-primitif compositions to express that initial self awareness in stories shared by most cultures across most time periods. His context may be both fine and commercial applications. His effort is to reach people who are aligned in either fine or commercial markets with the vital expressive energies of Rhythmistic Visual Art.

The Afrofuture aspects show up powerfully in his production of futuristic tribalisms imbedded in his iconic Black Age graphic novels.

Pictures and words combined to communicate and express.


Monday, September 29, 2014

A lecture on Rhythmistim with Prof. Onli at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Circa 1998. LINK

Friday, September 26, 2014

CHICAGO,- Ongoing at the Bridgeport Art Center, Rhythmistic visual artist, Turtel Onli, presents the Chinese proverb inspired "No Evils" collection of oil and acrylic paintings along with related pencil drawings. The works illustrate future-primitif noble austere beings in a state of Hear No, Seek No and Speak No Evils. Many of the subjects appear nude and bald to remove vanity while focusing on natural powers and confidences. Onli has a MAAT in Art Therapy,and BFA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Since the 1970s his works often explore aspects of cultural icons and concepts that earlier artists of African descent such as Bearden, White or Catlett did not have the luxury of processing.

Connoisseurs, collectors, curators and critics are welcomed to the regular 3rd Friday open studios program there at ONLI STUDIOS. 

Bidding for this exclusive  acrylic masterwork on canvas starts at $5,500.00.  Circa 1998. 
Email your interest via this link.onli@sbcglobal.net

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Great art movements require great connoisseurs, collectors, curators and critiques:

Prof. Onli wants to make it clear that all of his Rhythmistic fine art excursions are available via a bidding process. The above water-color on archival paper starts at $2,500.00. "Year of the Serpent" is part of the West / West Zodiac collection. The works are published in a zodiac themed journal that compares and contrasts the Chinese and Western Zodiac systems.
 This original art work lists at the same auction starting price or $2,500.00.
Email your bid interest for the above water-colors in USA Dollars or Bitcoins.  "Reach" is a oil master work. Oils on canvas at a size of 40"H X 30"W.  It depicts a goddess reaching to the Sun for life and the Sun reaching to her for energy. The starting bid price is $8,500.00 in USA dollars.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Prof. Onli is a rare visual thinker who is credited with launching two vital arts movements. One being the over-arching theme of Rhythmistic visual art and the other being the growing Black Age of Comics Movement in the graphic novels industry. The first being universal.  The latter flies in the face of the so called "post-Black" efforts to limit the power of culture, creativity and commerce.

Connoisseurs, collectors, curators and critics have noted the long term rise of the Rhythmistic visual art practices that are future-primitif, skill based and visionary.  


Monday, September 22, 2014

Expressing the potential of all visual things Rhythmistic!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Link to a documentary video on a Solo Rhythmistic exhibition at the ETA Gallery in Chicago. Circa 1998.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Here is a video from way back in the 20th century of Prof. Onli lecturing at the University of Illinois' African American Cultural Center, In Chicago IL USA. Link

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Artist Highlighted in Edgewater District of Chicago art event.  Link

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Video Link:

A film clip of pre-Future-Funk fan-zine project.
Prof. Onli's re-imaging, re-purposing, and retro-fitting visions, expressions, themes and the commodification of Rhythmistic fine and commercial art opens opportunities for collectors, curators and critics. Ownership is still the highest form of appreciation. Video Link

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

During this time Onli was thinking that many great Western world visual artists visit the Bible at some point. He went on to repurpose some Biblical themes as Rhythmistic visual statements.
Details showcasing non-traditional casting in the "Pieta" inspired Rhythmistic acrylic painting, "Every Mother's Son" which was collected by a practicing Chaplin on Chicago's tough south side.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

 Wise collectors, curators, and critics of all thinds Rhythmistic will love this set of original eyecandy. All oils.

TOP: "Taming the Waters" 36"H X 24"W.  on archival canvasboard. Circa 2008. ,

NEXT: "REACH!!" 30"W X 40"H on museum profile archival canvas. Circa 2001.

BOTTOM" "Rhythmistic Place Setting" oils on archival canvas board. 36"H X 24"W.  Circa 2008


Friday, August 22, 2014

Afrofuturism is not limited to applications related to the sciences but also the forward thinking of idealizing aspects of Blackness or Africanisms in a context that our past may not have predicted.  
Rhythmism links in a future-primitif context. Onli insists that the artist's skill set and selection of quality materials is imperative to the growth of both genres. Fans, investors, collectors, curators and critics deserve as much!
"Taming The Waters" is a Rhythmistic, oils on archival canvas board painting that creates a majestic image for serious collectors, curators, and critics. The message of an Angel stabilizing nourishment during troubled times has meaning in any time period, across all cultures and languages.  The size of the painting itself is 24"W X 36"H.  It comes with the current frame for immediate appreciation.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014



ONLI STUDIOS is hosting a special open studios for visitors of the
EXPO CHICAGO/2014 September 19th. 6pm until 10pm or 
by appointment 773-726-1610 Address: 3400 South Racine. Studio #3110. 
In the Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago IL.

Selected Rhythmistic original fine art by 
Onli for intelligent 
collectors, curators and critics' 
appreciation or purchase.

"Reach": Rhythmistic oils on museum profiled canvas.  
Circa 2001. 30"W X 40"H. By Onli


Sunday, August 17, 2014

"If you looking for the future, you have come to the right place"!  Collectors, critics and curators are invited to participate in my ongoing practice of creativity, culture and commerce. "I sell, consult, innovate, and publish in the visual arts domain from a Rhythmistic point of view. This includes a lot of the Afro-future as well."  Dr. Onli.  

We accept credit cards, cash, money real estate, and bitcoins in change for our growing list of Rhythmistic masterpieces and ONLI STUDIOS' intellectual properties. 

Email your interest to ONLI STUDIOS.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

The "Sustah-Girl" personal notebook is available at the Trading Post Gift Shop of the DuSable Museum in Chicago. Great for journaling, note taking or creative musings.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

ONLI STUDIOS will be hosting a saloniere session during its monthly open house featuring Dr. Ellis. Her solo exhibition and catalog will be the source of this amazing venture into her concepts in art making along with an appraisal of values for the smart collector.

ONLI STUDIOS is located at 3400 south Racine, 3rd floor, Studio #3110. Chicago IL. In the impressive Bridgeport Art Center. Time for the session is at 7pm. Hours 6pm to 10pm. Free admission.


Saturday, August 2, 2014

Bitcoins accepted for innovative Rhythmistic fine art from ONLI STUDIOS.  Bitcoin holders contact ONLI with your interests. Now is the time for tomorrow to rise! Collectors, curators, and critics welcomes too.


Friday, July 25, 2014

ONLI STUDIOS has a growing line of hot  Afrofuturistic Rhythmistic 
heroes in graphic novels, prints, t-shirts, and comic books. 
Contemporary mythology is heating up! 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

These are actual movements. Rhythmism and Afrofuturism. Art. Music. Dance. Literature. Fashion. Architecture. Cuisine. Theology. Languages. Lifestyles.

Monday, July 21, 2014

 ONLI STUDIOS publishes where its mouth is!  The future of the visual by way of da funk!
For over 30 years ONLI STUDIOS has been on zoom mode. Pushing the visual in terms of genres, creativity, culture and commerce. Prof. Onli has always reached out to other visual bad asses along the way to winning this war for minds and market shares.
Watch for coming issues of "Future Funk"!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

 "I often apply Rhythmistic aspects to projects and characters not of my creation.  Here is my treatment of Omega-7's Darkforce from the unpublished team up with ONLI STUDIOS' Malcolm-10."
"Here two critical indie heroes meet to plan action.  I am not giving away the storyline or plot, but it will rock whenever completed.  My point of sharing these images is to link illustration and commercial visual art to esoteric fine art.  I have applied Rhythmism to the entire range.  Close inspection of the design elements and the theme serves notice to its embrace of the afrofuturistic as well. One has to get past the orthodoxy of thinking fine art is a "high art" and comic book art or commercial illustration is a "low art".  I hold the truth that the best and most skilled/prolific visual practitioners work in the commercial competitive domains!"

Saturday, July 12, 2014

 Prof. Onli appreciating his Rhythmistic series of three oils on canvas painting entitled, "As the Sirens Sweetly Sang." This was at a gallery exhibition in Chicago.
 While on a visit to Puerto Rico, near a old Spainish slave port, Onli strikes a Rhythmistic pose in tribute to the travels and challenges of Africans brought to the Americas and their projected afrofuturistic aspirations of freedom on all levels. The future-primitif in us is calling!
 Presenting at a major Black Age of Comics Convention. ECBACC, in Philadelphia, PS. USA.
 One of a kind wearable Art-Star denim from ONLI STUDIOS.
 A 1983 tribute indigo based  ink painting to the late great Jimi Hendrix. Part of the "Rhythmistic Jimi" Collection.
ONLI STUDIOS is currently in production creating the 2nd edition of the timely "Sustah-Girl Work Out Book.  It promotes heathy choices and fitness to young women and girls of color.  It is great for families and classes alike.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Recently a few curators, critics and collectors visited Onli Studios 
and asked  the Rhythmistic Visual Artist the question......"Why Black?" 

In response Dr. Onli stated:

"America has benefited from the Black Cultural revolution that we launched in the mid 1960s and continues that benefit today.  It wins the culture wars on every content in terms of music, dance, fashion and flow.  Blackness is a serious export that reaches beyond the limits of languages and politics. We also rock the funk outta the visual arts.  This is why I coined the term and visual practice which I share in the name, Rhythmism. Black Culture is a valid as all other cultures except it is young. Around 60 years old. It is always in a growth mode.

Artistic mastery is akin to intellectual achievement.

The timid "post-Black" folks and the  resistant "race neutral people" tend to fear its force and resent its successes. Could one imagine being "post Jewish"  or "Asian Neutral? No matter....we love them too.  Black Culture separated American culture completely from its Euro roots.

Black Culture is the product of collective intelligent processing, observations, practice and serious levels of adaptation over decades.  To this end I serve up  Rhythmism and the growing Black Age of Comics Movement.  This is my short term answer.  The rest is expressed in my artistic practice.

Ownership is the highest form of appreciation!"

Dr. Onli, M.A.A.T

Professor of Art Appreciation and 
Studio Drawing at the Harold Washington College 
in Chicago Il USA
and Chief Operating Artist at ONLI STUDIOS.

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ms Jazzy Bear, is one of the female illustrators whose art is featured in the two editions of the "Sustah-Girl Workout Book". Volumes 1 & 2 are on the move. Promoting fitness and healthy choices. She regularly appears at ONYX-CON. 
 SUSTAH-GIRL, Queen of the Black Age. Copyright 2014 Turtel Onli. 
Published by ONLI STUDIOS.
Please leave your comments, suggestions and reviews.  
We would love to read and share them with other creative people like you!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a few comments! Thanks!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Serious fans collecting the works of a true Rhythmistic master at a recent convention.
The founder of the Rhythmistic and Black Age movements, Prof. Onli,  recently at a 
ECBACC event in Philadelphia PA. Showing his original products.
JUNE 15th 2014:

Sporting a vintage "Rhythmistic Venus" t-shirt from Onli, is Ms Jun.  She came to Chicago recently from Tokyo for a self directed Blues tour researching the legacy of the late Blues Great Lefty Dizz! During her stay one of my former musical clients,  Aki,  brought her to visit "The Father of the Black Age" in the sunny Bridgeport Art Center.  The location of ONLI STUDIOS in Chicago.  
All the way after Father's Day 2014.
Jun was surprised to learn about Onli's early Rhythmistic artwork in the "Rhythm and Sounds" album cover book from the UK. Both sample were from the 1970s.....rocking the globalized Rhythmistic visual path to now and later. Collectors, curators and critics tune in.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Producers, collectors, critics, investors and curators are encouraged to contact Onli.
 Making the future a better place to affect creativity, culture and commerce with the nexus of Rhythmism and the growing Black Age of Comics Movement.
 The Sustah-Girl Workout Book helps girls and women of color to make healthier choices and to appreciate the value of physical fitness. Graphic novels blend the best of visual and literary arts.
 This innovative original from ONLI STUDIOS was first published in 1992 when the "daywalker" was sporting a curly afro and bell bottoms.  
Malcolm-10 and Sustah-Girl are Copyright 2014 Turtel Onli
When we say Rhythmism or Black Age, we mean you too!