A frustration and doubt in the power of protest through art fueled my most recent work. The Star is layered with that energy: confusion, anger, and the weight of being Black in a country that loves our culture but still silences our truths.
Everything shifted when I saw the broadcasts of people flooding the streets, protesting from city to city. That spark of resistance reminded me that free will still matters, and that we do have power. This piece is a tribute to that realization. It’s inspired by Faith Ringgold’s Flag for the Moon and Boris Gardiner’s song “Every N*gger Is a Star”, two works that reclaim identity and flip the narrative. I wanted this print to say that we shine even when we feel muted. We’re still here, and we’re still fighting.
The Duality of Michael
These two printmaking pieces reflect the emotional duality I see in Michael Jackson’s childhood. The reddish print, with its warm tones and textured lines, carries a sense of hope and quiet strength, like he’s holding onto something bright inside. In contrast, the black and white version feels more raw and vulnerable, revealing the weight and sadness that often came with being a child star. Through these works, I wanted to explore that tension between light and shadow, joy and pain, and honor the complexity of what he was going through at such a young age.
Everything shifted when I saw the broadcasts of people flooding the streets, protesting from city to city. That spark of resistance reminded me that free will still matters, and that we do have power. This piece is a tribute to that realization. It’s inspired by Faith Ringgold’s Flag for the Moon and Boris Gardiner’s song “Every N*gger Is a Star”, two works that reclaim identity and flip the narrative. I wanted this print to say that we shine even when we feel muted. We’re still here, and we’re still fighting.
The Duality of Michael
These two printmaking pieces reflect the emotional duality I see in Michael Jackson’s childhood. The reddish print, with its warm tones and textured lines, carries a sense of hope and quiet strength, like he’s holding onto something bright inside. In contrast, the black and white version feels more raw and vulnerable, revealing the weight and sadness that often came with being a child star. Through these works, I wanted to explore that tension between light and shadow, joy and pain, and honor the complexity of what he was going through at such a young age.