BLK "Open to interpretation"
BLK "Open to interpretation" an exhibition celebrating the diverse and powerful voices of Black artists . This exhibition showcases a wide array of artistic expressions, including painting, photography, and multimedia, all unified by the shared experiences and cultural narratives of Black communities.
Opening Night: Sat. January 11, 2025 from 4:00-6:00 PM free & open to the public
On view January 11 - February 23, 2025
Featured Artists -
Momolu Akoiwala
Momolu Akoiwala is a Photographer born and raised in the city of Providence, RI. He uses photography as a tool for documenting everyday life and making photos that speak to him as a black artist growing up in Providence. Akoiwala aims to connect his audience to the same feeling he had while creating each work of art.
Spencer Evans
Spencer was born in Houston, TX and earned his BFA in Drawing and Painting from the University of Missouri and his MFA in Intermedia from the University of Texas at Arlington. He is living and working in Providence, Rhode Island. Evans is a 3-time Webby Award Winner, Two-time Cannes Lion Award Winner, Two-time Design & Art Direction Winner, Two-Time ADC Gold Award Winner, and a Campaign Media “Power of Purpose” Gold Award winner. Evans is also an Assistant Professor of Drawing at the Rhode Island School of Design and serving as Programs Head of the Experimental Foundations Studies Division.
Dorian Epps
Dorian Epps is a multimedia artist and industrial designer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Originally, his focus was solely product design, but has expanded to include animation, graphic design, and most notably apparel and textile work. He now owns his business, Blacktop Market, which has an emphasis on finding the intersections between sport, community, and design. His energy is directed towards either executing skills he has acquired or learning and developing new ones. You can see this exploration and self discovery in the works featured in the "BLK : Open to interpretation" exhibition.
Jordan Rhodes
Jordan Rhodes is an artist based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. After graduating with a Ph.D. in chemistry in the midst of a global shutdown due to the pandemic in 2020, the opportunity to switch focus onto an art career became apparent. During his time in graduate school, he rediscovered his passion for art, and developed an online presence which has been instrumental in providing creative opportunities. Jordan’s work primarily focuses on portraiture, and he works mostly in traditional water-based media such as gouache and watercolor but loves digital tools as well. One of his goals is to help others realize that is never too late to pursue their artistic dreams, no matter where they come from or when they may have started.
Amadi Williams
Amadi Williams is a multidisciplinary artist from Brooklyn NY and based in Providence RI. Her artwork explores the complexities of Blackness, family, and color. Through her own personal archives and online archives she explores storytelling and overlooked and underrepresented groups. With strong influence from artists such as Barkley L. Hendricks, Kerry James Marshall, and Nina Chanel Abney, her work breaks down stereotypes about appearance in the context of contemporary visual culture, pushing for non-traditional representations and ideas.
Brittney Bourne
Brittney Bourne is a Jamaican-American illustrator and character designer. She has a passion for imagination and play and using her work to reflect on childhood, bringing her younger self's imagination to life. Her goal is to create illustrations that mean and stand for something bigger and influence people to believe they can do anything they put their minds to.