BLINDED BY BEAUTY
This piece illustrates an African American woman whose hair is in its natural states. The hair which was made using cotton balls, acrylic paint, and glue acts as a reminder of the grim past African Americans have faced in this country. Additionally, the female depicted eyes are covered by a band which states “beauty.” The purpose of this illustration is to challenge the viewers’ idea of beauty. Often times, girls of color, specifically darker girls, are led to believe that their traits whether it be nappy hair, a big nose, big lips, or dark skin are not beautiful. However, that is an outdated ideal. In making this piece, I wanted to empower women of color to embrace their heritage and their natural beauty. Similarly, I wanted individuals to perceive things beyond the ideal of Eurocentric beauty standards.
MASK(ULINITY)
I made this watercolor piece as a statement regarding hypermasculinity. Our society has maintained the ideology that men are not allowed to show emotions. Pointedly, for men to convey sadness through tears is often viewed as a sign of weakness. However, these preconceptions are false; men and women experience similar emotions, therefore they should be allowed to express them equally without feeling judgement. Thus, we should peel away the mask that clouds the emotional expression of all.
THE COST OF FREEDOM
This American flag is painted on a large canvas utilizing acrylic paint which is dripped in red throughout the piece. I made this piece to provoke thought regarding our nation. America has a very messy past. This past, along with the present, encompasses the bloodshed of millions of people. Whether it be soldiers on the battlefield, civilians embracing daily life, or the Native Americans who place in this country often remains ignored, lives have been and continue be lost at the hands of American; so what truly is the cost of freedom?
GROWTH
Created with acrylic, yarn, and flowers on canvas, this piece reflects the importance of self-love and continual growth beyond the limitations placed on individual groups by society. For many Black women, understanding one’s hair is a form of coming of age and self-love going beyond hair growth and implying self-growth as one begins to detach themselves from the “flaw” of having Black hair. This piece highlights the importance of unlearning the standards of beauty that are pushed on to us from such a young age and instead seeking transformation in the freedom of self-expression and the continuous evolution of the mind, body, and soul.
THE GREAT WAVE OFF KANAGAWA AF1 CUSTOMS
This project was inspired by spending countless hours of quarantine listening to Nikes by Frank Ocean while scrolling through Pinterest. Created with acrylic and watercolor, the fun fashion statement playfully emulates Hokusai's famous work The Great Wave off Kanagawa.
TRANQUIL CHAOS
This three-panel abstract piece was created with acrylic on canvas. The painting juxtaposes a cool color scheme which creates a serene ambience with scattered motion and dynamism that imply disarray. Ultimately, the painting is in many ways reflective of where I feel I am in life as I navigate young adulthood where many pieces are falling together yet so much remains uncertain.