American painter known for recontextualizing Old Master paintings by positioning contemporary Black subjects in classical poses.
Art history is not a static museum, it is a living dialogue in which everyone can participate
Classical painting has set a very narrow standard of beauty. I need to expand that ideal
The flowers behind my figures are not mere decoration, they are an archive, a history, a monument
The Old Masters created a language of beauty. I use that same language but give it a new voice
I want to show that dignity and beauty exist not just in historical canon, but everywhere around us
To paint someone's portrait is an act of power. Whose image hangs in the museum determines who matters in society
Classical art has always excluded people like me. I take that history and rewrite it to include myself and my people