Inspiration

 

        As an artist, I serve as an intermediary between the stories of people who share my own and those who don’t have access to these sacred spaces. My work includes Sculpture, Fiber Arts, Book Arts, Photography, and Performance and Literary Poetry stitched together by themes of masculinity and sexuality in Black men and Black history. My goal is to give queer Black men a platform to create a space for ourselves within the mass culture that exists outside of the sashay and couture we are so commonly associated with.

 

        In terms of influence, the act of black men carving out a space for ourselves in a culture that seeks to destroy us is where I draw my inspiration. To think that black men, who are categorized as criminals, thugs, uneducated, and sexually perverse scares me – I am terrified that these are the messages associated with people who look like me. I want to offer an idea that challenges these social norms. I want to create a space where all parties can be honest – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, ability, social class, and other compartmentalizing tropes.  

 

        My work is partly autobiographical, partly historical, and partly storytelling. It is also based in a strong technical understanding of multiple media and how each one can tell different parts of one multidimensional story. I’ve learned to bend boundaries and push towards new terrain, while still quoting those who came before me. If you are patient and quiet enough, my work will take you on a journey; it will talk with you – it’s about creating a space for dialogue where artist, viewer and art can drop our guard and become vulnerable again.