“Meet Deryl. Keep your eye on him”
Instead of merely depicting figures, my work reveals what they carry.
The body holds growth and knowledge.
The landscape remembers.
The image becomes a psychological field.
The audience becomes a witness within the encounter.
Mixed media on canvas
31 × 32 in
2026
#MeetDeryl #BlackFiguration #PsychologicalField #ArtAsWitness #ContemporaryPainting
Work in progress — addressing displacement and plight of African people to Europe during the Transatlantic slave trade.
These pieces are part of an ongoing exploration of colonialism, slavery, racial violence, and systemic oppression.
In the first piece, I’m thinking through the dynamic between power and suffering. The colonial figures, dressed in red coats, smirk and point while a Black body hangs upside down. Their exaggerated expressions feel almost cartoonish, which contrasts with the weight of the moment. The shadowy figures in the background suggest agonizing fate of defeat.
The second piece expands on these themes. The central Black figure, bound and exposed, looms over two colonial characters who seem to be mocking …
I’m still working through these ideas, pushing myself to see where they lead.
Coming 2 Amerikkka(WIP)
This series of works emerges from my exploration of storytelling through raw materials and expressive forms. Using cardboard as my canvas, I embrace its imperfections—each crease, tear, and texture becomes an essential part of the narrative, shaping the imagery and deepening its resonance.
The figures depicted—indentured servants, slave owners, silhouettes, and bound bodies—occupy a charged space where history and personal interpretation intersect. Bold strokes and gestural lines evoke movement and tension, while fragmented layers of text suggest untold stories, inviting viewers to construct their own understanding.
This work transcends visual expression; it seeks to foster dialogue. The cardboard, with its unassuming familiarity, transforms into a stage where themes of power, struggle, and identity take shape. Each panel represents my journey of confronting and engaging with the history of the transatlantic slave trade—a tactile process of layering, observing, and responding to both the medium and the subject. The setting of production, with its exposed beams and unfinished backdrop, serves as an extension of the work itself, grounding it in a space of experimentation, reflection, and raw honesty.
In my new body of work, I explore representational portraiture and figure art through the lens of everyday interactions. Drawing inspiration from the “new old master” concept, I embrace the resurgence of traditional materials, particularly color pencils. This medium allows me to carve out figures with a painterly quality, revealing the intricate psychology underlying casual meetings. Each piece captures the nuances of human connection, transforming fleeting moments into expressive narratives that invite viewers to reflect on the complexity of interpersonal dynamics.
