Exhibitions

Sex & Religion

2019

group exhibition at TONE Gallery

 Although my relationship with church is very complicated, I didn't want to center trauma in my work. Or at least not without any kind of after care. So for my pieces, I addressed shame and rebellion that exists in the hearts of young black girls in church. "Shame" is a short story about a queer crush I had in childhood. The images depict the sense of hopelessness and desperation to "not fall in to sin". I incorporated other references to the church like the bible textures and the sheet music for "Order My Steps"

For "When We Get Free (I, II, III)" I wanted to show black femmes tapping into their power in a wide open SOUTHERN setting (coincidentally not far at all from the church I grew up in.) I kept the color pallettes very light and "clean" to both represent freeness and also assert that there's still "cleanliness" and "holy-ness" amongst what's perceived as rebellion. Black girls are severely overpoliced and sexually shamed everywhere but the spiritual manipulation and harm we experience is so unique. I wanted to show the girls sharing space with each other and just minding their black girl business without having to cover their laps, close their legs, or watch their tones and faces.