Brown Girls Unite

The other day I was asked "What's up with all the Brown Girls throwing hand signs in your art?" and my answer is "Representation Matters". So let's start from the beginning, this summer I started painting a series of brown girls that reflected pride in their ethnic heritage, academic excellence, service to the community and friendship. I wanted to represent a college educated woman who is proud of who she is and where she comes from. I also wanted viewers to relate personally to each painting, I want mothers and daughters to see themselves in the painting.  Each brown girl is wearing a dashiki in the paintings. I think it is important to embrace our ethnic heritage in art. I see works from other artists that say they are about celebrating the African, female body but the work is usually a nude. I think women can be empowered without being nude, women can be clothed in strength and pride. Women can boldly celebrate their heritage in a dashiki cloth t...