"Untitled." 2014. Acrylic Mix Media Collage

"I made Untitled in 2014 when I was studying abroad in Great Britain where I was not only the sole Black student on the trip but also the only black art student at the university. During the study abroad, I learned about Great Britain's slave history in contrast with the United States's history with slavery.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
In response to the many raw and tense emotions that I felt at the time, I made this.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
When I shared this piece with my professor and classmates, my art professor categorized and called my piece "shock art." I was surprised by his response because to me,  this piece is an accurate representation of what living in this world as a Black person is like. I didn't receive a good score on this piece and I didn't feel comfortable sharing it with others. This year (2020), for the first time, I am showing this precious piece of mine publicly."⁣