The Lost and Found Ones

Reception: Wednesday, March 8, 5-7pm

Curated by Montserrat Galleries Curatorial Assistant, Taliyah Shepard

Michael Aghahowa

Frantz Lexy

Jameel Radcliffe

Rixy

Artist Talk: Chanel Thervil, Wednesday, March 9, 2:50-3:40 (siesta) via Zoom

Artist Talk: Frantz Lexy & Jameel Radcliffe, Tuesday, March 28, 11:00-12:00 (lunch hour), Paul Scott Library

The Lost and Found Ones celebrates the painted portrait by regional, contemporary artists who are representing their cultures in their work. By portraying their ethnic and cultural identities from their perspective, the artists create portraiture that is new and inventive. The exhibition celebrates the beautiful and personal stories that are used when representing BIPOC subjects.

In studying art history, we mostly concentrate on one narrative from a single point of view. The depictions of BIPOC subjects in art are more culturally enhanced when it comes from a BIPOC viewpoint. There were a wide range of answers to the question asked to the participating artists: “How does your background influence your paintings and art practice?” In the formation of this exhibition, it was crucial to talk about familial representation in these works and the powerful connections forged between artist and subject. When sitting down with Jameel Radcliffe (BFA ’17) it was inspiring to hear his goal of depicting the people he knows and loves in his art the ways in which he incorporates abstract elements and symbolism to tell a story. Michael Aghahowa (BFA ’16) takes the art of loved ones very seriously, as he paints himself and the women in his life with reverence and respect. When applying elements of abstraction to portraiture and in his painting, Frantz Lexy takes the approach that the two are synonymous and that representation is based on the subject’s mere existence in the world. Rixy has taken it upon herself to represent the narratives of her heritage and the spirituality of womanhood by celebrating the women that made her into the person she is today.

The world of portraiture is ever-expanding, and the skillful imagination of the participatings artists in The Lost and Found Ones, illustrates a deep commitment to creating art that reflects how they see the world. As contemporary art expands the need for representation, not only in subject matter but behind the brush, this exhibition gives a platform to these four artists who are reshaping conventions of painting and pushing the boundaries of portraiture conventions.

-Taliyah Shepard