Contemporary art is a broad and ever-evolving world. It’s more than just aesthetically beautiful; it’s a medium that allows artists like me to tell stories, reflect on identity, culture, and give voice to narratives that are often overlooked. At MCJ Studio, I’ve dedicated my practice to exploring these very ideas through realistic portraiture and figurative influences. My art serves as a window into the experiences of individuals, particularly those from the Afro and Caribbean diaspora, while paying homage to artists that have inspired my journey, like Kerry James Marshall, Amy Sherald, and Bisa Butler.
My work delves into realism but goes beyond just the replication of features. It’s about capturing the essence of a person—their strength, resilience, and cultural identity—and making sure those emotions are felt by the viewer. Through oil paintings on canvas, I try to convey not just what is seen on the surface, but the deeper layers of experience, identity, and culture that each subject embodies.
Let me walk you through how I approach contemporary art, why realism and figurative influences are so important in my work, and how these themes allow me to speak to the nuanced experiences of the communities I represent.
I’ve always seen contemporary art as a way to respond to the world around me. It’s about taking traditional art forms and bending, twisting, and reshaping them to tell new stories. Contemporary art gives me the freedom to experiment—not just with my choice of medium, but with the ideas I want to share. Whether I’m working on a painting, a sketch, or an illustration, I try to ensure that each piece says something relevant about our current cultural landscape.
For me, contemporary art isn’t just about making pretty pictures. It’s about speaking to the challenges people face today—be it identity, race, gender, or cultural pride. I’m particularly interested in using my work to reflect the Afro and Caribbean diaspora, two communities that have given me so much inspiration in terms of the themes I explore. Their stories, their beauty, and their resilience offer endless material for me to work with.
What is contemporary art to you?
For me, contemporary art is about pushing boundaries, both in form and content. It’s about creating work that resonates with current events and societal issues, while also breaking from tradition.
Why do you focus on the Afro and Caribbean diaspora?
These communities are underrepresented in mainstream art. I want to ensure that their stories are told, their beauty and strength are celebrated, and that they are given a voice in the broader art world.
I’ve always been fascinated by realistic portraiture. There’s something so powerful about capturing not just a person’s likeness, but their inner world—their emotions, their identity, their story. Through realism, I feel like I can show the world who my subjects really are, on their own terms.
Artists like Kerry James Marshall and Amy Sherald have heavily influenced this aspect of my work. Marshall is known for depicting black figures in a way that elevates and reclaims their place in art history. His use of realism makes his subjects stand tall, proud, and unafraid. Amy Sherald, on the other hand, uses vibrant colors and meticulous detail to make her subjects come alive. Her portrait of Michelle Obama is a perfect example of how a single portrait can capture both a person and an entire movement.
When I’m working on a portrait, the first step is always to get to know the subject. Who are they? What’s their story? What are the cultural and personal layers that make them who they are? Once I have that understanding, I move on to sketching. The sketches allow me to play with composition and think about how I can best convey the essence of my subject.
Once I’m happy with the sketch, I transfer it to canvas. Using oil paints, I begin the layering process—starting with a base coat and gradually building up the details, blending colors to achieve the depth and richness that oil paint offers. This technique allows me to capture even the smallest details, from the light in their eyes to the texture of their skin.
Bisa Butler is another artist whose work has deeply influenced me. Although she works with textiles rather than paint, her vibrant portraits have shown me how to combine realism with figurative and symbolic elements to tell a deeper story. Each stitch, color, and pattern she uses speaks to her subject’s identity, culture, and personal history. I try to achieve something similar in my paintings by weaving in cultural elements that speak to my subject’s background.
Why do you focus on realism?
Realism allows me to capture the true essence of a person. It goes beyond just depicting what someone looks like and delves into their personality, their emotions, and their lived experiences.
How do Kerry James Marshall, Amy Sherald, and Bisa Butler influence your work?
Each of these artists brings something unique to the table. Kerry James Marshall is all about reclaiming black figures in art, Amy Sherald captures emotion and pride through vibrant realism, and Bisa Butler tells deeply layered cultural stories through her work. I draw from each of their strengths in my own portraits.
While realism is central to my work, figurative influences also play a huge role. Figurative art allows me to explore not just the physical appearance of my subject but the symbolic elements that make up their identity. I love playing with symbolism—whether it’s a specific pattern, a cultural motif, or an object that holds personal meaning for the subject. These figurative elements help tell a more complete story.
For example, in one of my recent works, I included a series of Caribbean patterns woven into the background of the portrait to represent the subject’s connection to her heritage. It’s these little details that make a portrait more than just a picture of someone—it becomes a visual representation of their entire identity.
What is figurative art?
Figurative art refers to artwork that represents human figures or objects, often with symbolic elements. It’s a way to combine realism with deeper layers of meaning.
How do you use figurative influences in your work?
I incorporate cultural motifs, symbols, and patterns to represent my subject’s background, identity, and personal history. These figurative elements help add depth and richness to my portraits.
Creating a piece of art is a deeply personal and involved process for me. Each painting is a journey from initial concept to the final brushstroke. While I primarily work with oil paints on canvas, each piece goes through a series of stages, from conceptualization and sketching to the final application of paint.
The canvas is my foundation, providing a sturdy, textured surface for my oils. I use oil paints because of their versatility and richness—they allow me to create a wide range of textures and colors, which is essential for capturing the nuances of skin tone, light, and shadow. Oil paints also take longer to dry, giving me time to layer and adjust the painting until it feels just right.
I choose oil painting on canvas because of its durability and the depth it allows me to achieve. Unlike acrylics or watercolors, oils give me the ability to build layers, blend colors, and create a rich, luminous effect that brings my subjects to life. The slow drying time also allows for more flexibility—if I’m not happy with a section, I can always go back and rework it until I am.
Why do you use oil paints instead of other mediums?
Oil paints allow me to achieve a richness and depth that I can’t get with other mediums. The slow drying time also gives me more control over the final outcome.
What’s the benefit of painting on canvas?
Canvas provides a sturdy, long-lasting surface for oil paints. It also allows the texture of the paint to come through, adding to the overall richness of the piece.
Much of my work focuses on themes from the Afro and Caribbean diaspora. I believe it’s crucial to represent these communities in contemporary art, especially given their underrepresentation in mainstream galleries and museums. Through my work, I aim to elevate their stories and showcase their beauty, strength, and resilience.
By using symbolism, cultural patterns, and realistic portraiture, I explore the diverse experiences of individuals within these communities. Whether it’s a reference to traditional clothing, a Caribbean pattern, or an African symbol, these elements are meant to celebrate and honor the subject’s heritage.
Contemporary art has given me the freedom to explore themes that are close to my heart. At MCJ Studio, my goal is to create portraits that go beyond the surface—portraits that tell stories, that reflect cultural pride, and that resonate on a deeper emotional level. Through realism and figurative influences, I aim to make my subjects not just seen but truly understood. Whether it’s through an intricate oil painting on canvas or a framed art piece, my work is my way of contributing to the conversation about identity, culture, and representation in the art world.
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