Not as a symbol or a victim but instead, as a man, Postcard Series (2020-present)

This small painting series is driven by a quote from James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time, “they could deal with the Negro as a symbol or victim but had no sense of him as a man.” I wanted to jailbreak a narrative that has curated the Black experience from existence by depicting everyday scenes of Black life: eating breakfast, going ice skating, playing chess, or lounging at the park. Through memorializing Black lived experiences, I worked to reframe concepts of freedom and liberty and center on Black family life.

Series of 4×6 Acrylic and oil on wood and paper