Print Collections
Black Mundane
In 1968, a commission chaired by Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner was formed after what was called “the long, hot summer of 1967”. The Kerner Commission released its report, which included a chapter focused on how white news outlets contributed to the country’s racial division and unrest. It noted that “far too often, the press acts and talks about Negroes as if Negroes don't read the newspapers or watch television, give birth, marry, die, and go to PTA meetings.”
This conversation has been coming up a lot for me. Around the persistence of this media narrative - a narrative that we only exist in either the magnificent or in death / crime.
One way for us to counter this narrative is by talking about the mundane, the mendacity. If we don't document the mundane, we allow future generations to inherit an absence of documentation in the same way that we've inherited an absence of documentation of the mundane from the 1900s, 1820s, et cetera. Imagine the joy you feel when you see some of our cultural heroes like Maya Angelou, June Jordan, Martin Luther King Jr living life: biking, playing pool, dancing? What if those images of us existed now, into the future?
To that end, I created this evolving collection of art celebrating the Black Mundane depicting Black people living, laughing, and loving.
Fluidentity
Fluidentity is a state in which traditional boundaries of identity are completely in flux blurring the lines between subjects and backgrounds, creating a mesmerizing fusion that resonates with the intricate relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through thr incorporation of textures and line work inspired by each subject, these artworks mirror the dynamic transformation individuals undergo in response to nature's influence. Just as nature shapes its environment, the textures and lines in these pieces symbolize the molding of emotional and psychological contours by external forces. This series delves into the enigmatic interplay between self and surroundings, illuminating the profound interconnectedness we share with nature. These artworks invite viewers to contemplate the ever-evolving nature of their identities within the context of a perpetually changing world, redefining the conventional boundaries between art and observer through a visual narrative.