“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
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.
