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Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton
Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton
CMC Senior Theses
An exploration grounded in the works of visionary artists within the contemporary Post-Black era. Artists such as Kara Walker, Kerry James Marshall, and Glenn Ligon whose works resonate with the fears, anxieties, and intentions that I wrestled with. I engaged with the iconography and historical background of the contemporary Post-Black era. A dive into the historical, philosophical and artistic implications behind making art about race and racism as a Black artist. Ultimately, through the aid of artists from the Post-Black era, I created a three-part response to the initial question: “Why don’t you make art about race?”
Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton, Blake Morton
Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton, Blake Morton
CMC Senior Theses
I constantly experience external pressure to make identity-related art work in response to the ongoing racial-reckoning occurring in the United States.
Initially, I was concerned with the pitfalls of creating identity-art. One of which being pigeon-held as a Black artist— whose sole function is to share my vulnerable experiences —and be commodified and diluted for superficial consumption. A Black artist whose work would only be valuable when institutions needed to satisfy a diversity quota, a Black History Month initiative or to conduct damage control after being “canceled.”
All of which may very well still happen. I’ve utilized this project to …
Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton
Painting While Black: Exploring Racial Identity Through Iconography, Blake Morton
Scripps Senior Theses
I constantly experience external pressure to make identity-related artwork in response to the ongoing racial-reckoning occurring in the United States.
Initially, I was concerned with the pitfalls of creating identity-art. One of which being pigeon-held as a Black artist— whose sole function is to share my vulnerable experiences —and be commodified and diluted for superficial consumption. A Black artist whose work would only be valuable when institutions needed to satisfy a diversity quota, a Black History Month initiative or to conduct damage control after being “canceled.”
All of which may very well still happen. I’ve utilized this project to work …