Akira Gordon

What I am most interested in as an artist is painting black figures and placing them in environments. Although I draw inspiration from looking at old masterworks, I’m upset when the people in those paintings don’t look like me or many of the people that I know. I hope to bridge that gap and give black people images that they can relate to in some way without it making an overt political statement; instead showing figures in leisure or doing the mundane and the ordinary.

I want my work to intrigue the viewer for its technical aspect and for its the content. I want my art to be meaningful and have layered narratives that people can dive into. I find the most authentic way to do this is through self-portraiture and referencing my own experiences. I use myself as a reference for my paintings because I know myself deeply and I believe it’s important to examine your own life.