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Effective January 1: Masks are Optional in VisArts’ Classrooms and Studios
My work uses satire and visual riposte to challenge the ambiguity of the black construct as both an object and personhood. What started as an inquiry about the discursive formation of the black race by my then five-year-old daughter followed my investigation into the subject within American society both past and present. The black construct is complicated, fluid, and unreliable with anthropomorphic qualities. The “truth” of race and complexities is intrinsic to our lives yet as my daughter reminds me daily it’s not as complex as we make it. The use of various photographic, technology, and fiber materials blended within the painting is an attempt to find a childlike understanding of the inaccuracies and indecisiveness of racial classifications of Black Americans and the achromatic color they both share.
James Williams II (b. 1982, Syracuse, NY) is an interdisciplinary artist whose work explores racial constructs, systemic racism, and cultural identity in the United States. He creates paintings and sculptures that often incorporate non-traditional materials to form richly layered reliefs. Williams has presented solo exhibitions at UTA Artist Space (Atlanta, GA), LCVA Museum (Longwood, VA), Langer Over Dickie (Chicago, IL), and Resort Baltimore (Baltimore, MD). His work has also been featured in group exhibitions at GAVLAK Gallery (Los Angeles, CA), Catalyst Contemporary, and the Walters Art Museum (both in Baltimore, MD), among others. His work is included in the public collection of the Baltimore Museum of Art. Williams is the recipient of the 2022 Janet & Walter Sondheim Art Prize and the MFA Joan Mitchell Foundation Award. His exhibitions have been reviewed by publications including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Baltimore Beat, The Baltimore Sun, BmoreArt, and others. He currently lives and works in Baltimore, MD.
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