The Absence of Black Bodies in Traditional Art Narratives

This painting is a part of a series of works that address the absence of black bodies in traditional art narratives. 

In this series, I wanted to include the presence of black people in stories where we fit, but have been intentionally extinguished and deleted, thereby ‘conning’ some people into believing that black people can’t be in these stories.  

Now suddenly the memory of Daniel’s words comes to me “His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like clean wool…”

I want us to see ourselves in the sacred places and stories of the past and know that we belong in the ones to come, despite what others think.  

He is an icon for those whose stories deserve to be told.