Black History Month, Black Art, and Why I Make Space
Black History Month is a time of reflection for me, not just on history, but on continuity. It’s a moment to look back at the artists who laid the groundwork, the ones who created despite limited access, recognition, or preservation, and to look around at the artists working right now, shaping culture in real time.
Every February, I make a conscious effort to showcase Black artists (past and present) because Black art has always been central to how our stories are told, remembered, and imagined. Artists like Jacob Lawrence, whose Migration Series documented collective movement and resilience; Faith Ringgold, who merged storytelling, feminism, and political critique; and Betye Saar, whose assemblages transformed everyday objects into powerful cultural statements, remind us that Black art has long carried historical weight and emotional depth.
Alongside these foundational figures, I am equally invested in highlighting contemporary Black artists who are expanding the conversation today. Artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Kerry James Marshall, Mickalene Thomas, Barkley L. Hendricks, and Derrick Adams have reshaped how Black life, interiority, and visibility are represented in museums, media, and popular culture. Their work affirms that Black art is not confined to the past, it is evolving, ambitious, and undeniably present.
This lineage matters deeply to my own practice. I paint Black scenes and spaces as living archives neighborhood storefronts, domestic interiors, celebrations, and everyday environments that are often overlooked or dismissed as ordinary. Like many of the artists who inspire me, I am interested in honoring the everyday as a site of meaning. By painting these spaces with care and intention, I aim to preserve moments that might otherwise go undocumented.
During Black History Month, I like to place my work in conversation with the artists who came before me and those working alongside me now. My paintings are not meant to exist in isolation; they are part of a broader visual and cultural dialogue. Seeing my work alongside the legacy of Black artists reinforces the idea that our creativity is connected across generations.
The importance of Black art extends beyond representation. It shapes how history is remembered and how future possibilities are imagined. Black artists have always been historians, archivists, and visionaries often without the recognition or resources afforded to others. Supporting Black art through study, visibility, and sustained engagement ensures that these stories continue to be told with nuance and integrity.
Black History Month reminds me why I make the work I do. It reinforces my commitment to research, intention, and cultural care. Black art is not supplemental to history it is foundational. And I am proud to contribute my voice, my perspective, and my paintings to that ongoing story.
