The Artist’s Statement
My artistic focus is to express the parts of myself that words cannot fully encapsulate. Working across diverse mediums—acrylic photorealistic portraits, graphite hyperrealistic drawings, digital illustrations, 3D sculptures, and literature—I explore the complexities of identity and the human condition from multiple perspectives.
What makes my work unique is the lens through which I view the world. As a queer African American artist, my spirituality, upbringing, and academic background in Anthropology deeply inform my perspective. My work is shaped by a life of contrast: academic success and instability, artistic accolades and personal challenges. This evolution makes my process unlike any other, infusing my creations with a distinctive blend of vulnerability, intellect, and resilience.
At its core, my art examines the tension between what we are and what we could be. My subjects often reflect aspects of myself, but their stories oppose my own conventions, creating a dialogue between self and viewer. In The Question Asked, for example, the subject, Tia, reaches out with an inviting expression, reclining before a pop art painting of Malcolm X. For the viewer, the work suggests comfort and expression in a revolutionary setting. For me, it’s a reflection of my queer identity acknowledging the revolutionaries in my background and inviting myself into that moment of belonging. This interplay challenges both personal and shared interpretations, enriching the experience of the work.
My work also seeks to depict the multidimensionality of Black identity. Through my experiences as a queer, nonbinary African American navigating trauma, triumph, and transformation, I strive to represent the fullness of who we are. I embrace the intersections of identity, exploring how we exist not only in struggle but also in joy, connection, and complexity. My openness to the world, shaped by my diverse background, allows me to depict this richness with authenticity and depth.
Viewers often connect with my work on an emotional level. My art resonates not simply through its visual impact but through its ability to evoke feeling. It invites audiences to live with my subjects, imagine their futures, and reflect on their pasts. In doing so, I create spaces for connection, understanding, and shared humanity, bridging the personal and universal through the power of art.