“Dreamers” 16” x16” on canvas
I am a Philadelphia-based, African-American folk artist who came of age in the 1970s dancing to funk music and marveling at the works of the Harlem Renaissance artists. Through a mixture of these influences and my own lens, my work is driven by the desire to encapsulate the dignity and humanity of Black subjects as they move in familiar, comfortable settings. An amalgam of humor, imprecision, stylized images, and bursting colors characterize the inhabitants of my painted universe. Simultaneously accessible and thoughtful, my paintings employ bold hues to imbue majestic feelings in viewers who recognize our valuable imprint on both the fantastical and the mundane; this consideration encourages one to paradoxically view the mundane as vibrant. (In other words, we bring the funk).
Weaved throughout my work is the thematic trifecta of humanity, nature and animals as peaceful co-existents. And although I have always highlighted human connectivity, I have recently, however, begun to tap deeper into the deliberate examination of the subjects ’existence from a purely intra-communal perspective. This point of entry could erroneously be
regarded as simplistic but is the essence of our enduring spirit. While characters’ faces are often expressionless to depict steadiness, swirling energy exudes through the hair or hands. Viewers may further connect with my pieces through the often colloquially-expressed titles, written with poetic rhythm alongside a nod to cultural knowing. The intention centers community first but beckons all viewers to identify universally-shared joy.
Woman Owned, Black Owned, Made in Philly
“Dreamers” 16” x16” on canvas
I am a Philadelphia-based, African-American folk artist who came of age in the 1970s dancing to funk music and marveling at the works of the Harlem Renaissance artists. Through a mixture of these influences and my own lens, my work is driven by the desire to encapsulate the dignity and humanity of Black subjects as they move in familiar, comfortable settings. An amalgam of humor, imprecision, stylized images, and bursting colors characterize the inhabitants of my painted universe. Simultaneously accessible and thoughtful, my paintings employ bold hues to imbue majestic feelings in viewers who recognize our valuable imprint on both the fantastical and the mundane; this consideration encourages one to paradoxically view the mundane as vibrant. (In other words, we bring the funk).
Weaved throughout my work is the thematic trifecta of humanity, nature and animals as peaceful co-existents. And although I have always highlighted human connectivity, I have recently, however, begun to tap deeper into the deliberate examination of the subjects ’existence from a purely intra-communal perspective. This point of entry could erroneously be
regarded as simplistic but is the essence of our enduring spirit. While characters’ faces are often expressionless to depict steadiness, swirling energy exudes through the hair or hands. Viewers may further connect with my pieces through the often colloquially-expressed titles, written with poetic rhythm alongside a nod to cultural knowing. The intention centers community first but beckons all viewers to identify universally-shared joy.
Woman Owned, Black Owned, Made in Philly
