Demetri Burke

Georgia State University

Untitled, 2020
oil, ink, paper, plaster, vinyl, and preserved flower on canvas, 48 x 30 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
Images from my past get mashed together in my thoughts: pastors howling, archways floating over me, rappers' shiny grills on tv. These topics amalgamated together question identity along with the nature of power and the means in which to get it – all cascaded on the canonical surface of the canvas.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
The AXA Art Prize connects artists to communities they might not have had access to before and validates their experiences as artists in the very daunting presence of the art world. To have this opportunity to showcase my work with such a diverse group and such a large audience is amazing to me.

With the pandemic forcing the world to rethink how we keep moving forward, do you feel encouraged or inspired in your own studio practice to persevere despite these challenges?
In times like these, I think artists get to work. The practice, if implemented actively, moves artwork from depictions or storytelling into activist and therapeutic productions. For me, it's not the best of times, but it has shown me how much art matters.

Website: www.dmtriburke.com
Instagram: @demetri.stefan