Lanise Howard

Otis College of Art and Design

Artwork title: Adam
oil on canvas | 48 x 36 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
The work is part of a series of works on censorship and assimilation. In the work, his hair is pixelated using a type of digital codification; “censoring” his hair in order to spark a conversation about the censorship of African-American hair in society

How do you describe your work and practice?
I see myself as a figurative artist whose work often focuses on different narratives. Often these narratives are first found in my dreams, while at other times they are influenced by our world and its histories. My practice is mostly concerned with deciphering these nuances and conveying them in an honest and layered way.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
I thought the work from last year was great and that it would be an amazing opportunity, if selected, to show my work in a space which welcomes artists like myself.

How do you approach a new work?
Recently I’ve been working on works that have to do with the human race assimilating with one another and with technology. I think that we are approaching the singularity, where the idea of what makes a person human will be put into question. I think about how we as humans will approach this reality.

www.lanisehoward.com
Instagram | @lanise_howard_art