The impetus of my creative journey began with preservation. The practice of sankofa is in direct opposition to the systematic erasure of Black american history through policy change, destruction & amalgamation. I recreate historical, political, creative & sociological figures that are critical to my resonance with & understanding of my own Black american experience. I believe the act of recreating/re-telling allows us to maintain control of our own narrative.
My creative ideology has evolved to include explorations of empathy & ponderings of freedom. The telling of Black american history and our experiences is often marred with violence, grief, struggle & despair; however, there is a parallel narrative of resilience, buoyancy, magnanimity, creativity & an untamable, knowing power. Rather than choose to focus on either narrative I attempt to reconcile them both into a single image. The dynamism of the Black experience is an iceberg surrounded by the currents that move us. I believe that portraiture affords us an opportunity to look more deeply at ourselves, & others, to consider what narratives we create for others, how much of that person is erased in that narrative, what is obscured from/by that narrative, & how much of our humanity we lose by participating in this process?
What’s distinctive about my work is that I recreate historical moments so I can reclaim a piece of my history. My creative journey did not begin with any explorative questions or burning desires. Now several years into my practice, I believe I am searching for the thread that connects myself & my subjects, as an attempt to validate my experiences/feelings while navigating this world as a Black american lesbian. I believe that art has the potential to allow the viewer to glimpse the soul of the subject & to create a portal for others to follow me through. I reach beyond photorealism to create a robust exploration of bold, bright, saturated colors to elevate Black bodies as a metaphor for the beautiful tapestry of Black culture that is as integral to the fabric of our country as is the magnitude of our contributions to society.
I make the work primarily using acrylic based paints, glitter, foils and inks. For some artists acrylic paints are considered subpar in quality, saturation of color, & difficult to manipulate in comparison to oil based paints. However, I enjoy the challenge of working with a medium on its own terms, I believe this grants my materials autonomy as we conspire together to create art. It feels analogous to the ways in which american culture views and engages with Black bodies. The ability to take something considered subpar & create something magnificent despite the inherent challenges is a key component to the Black american experience.
