Q. What does your artwork represent?
My artwork represents the shifting of art conversations as they pertain to the physical material and representation. By using recycled materials I am able to turn “trash into treasure” creating distinctive human figures and animal infused portraits. Each painting opens a space to ignite emotions and start conversations around art and the visual representation of those from the African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Each one of a kind piece shares not only a small piece of my own story but the story of those that have come before me and after me.
Q. What inspires you?
I’m inspired by the every day woman/ girl no matter her age and the strength of resilience to keep educating and accomplishing their goals no matter what! I’m also inspired by my natural recycled surface I paint on. By using recycled material none of my canvas pieces are alike; meaning that outside of the portrait the wood itself is also a one of a kind. Even if I get a large piece of wood and cut it down each piece has its own texture and pattern which I use as inspiration for development of each portrait. I work with the surface and paint to fuse the image seamlessly with the surface so they connect as one; as if they were always meant to be apart of each other.
Q. What does your art mean to you?
My artwork creates a sense of self and awareness as well as opening up a much bigger story I am destined to tell through paint. My work mimics viewing the world through thermal night vision goggles. Through these thermal goggles, I discovered that I no longer saw the ordinary limbs, skin, hair, and eyes; but instead, I saw beyond it, and glimpsed the unseen. I saw the red and green undertones, the orange and blue shadows with teal highlights and golden streaks where the light reflected against the curvature of bone and muscle. With these details, I bring focus to promote our beauty, strength, realness, and uniqueness in each painting. I want to evoke emotion and start conversations around art and visual representation of those from the African, African American, and Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Each painting is one of a kind and shares not only a small piece of my own story but the story of those that have come before and after me.
Check out her website at: https://www.afrocentrickeyy.com/
Check out more artworks at: https://gogomagazine.in/category/magazine/arts-volume-3/
4.5