Ericka Jeffries

New York Academy of Art

Artwork title: How Do You Spell My Name?
oil on linen | 36 x 32 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
How Do You Spell My Name? is a love letter to my mother. The realistic aspects of the painting are grounded in a bathroom from the 90s, while identifiable forms transition into different colors and patterns to describe our emotional and spiritual bond.

How do you describe your work and practice?
My art practice typically depicts girlhood and the confusing nature of nostalgia coupled with emotional traumas.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
Seeing how beautiful the show was last year when it toured to New York Academy of Art, made me want to apply this year in hopes of being part of it. The show was filled with so much talent and voice. I was in awe of what other artists are accomplishing in the realm of contemporary figurative painting.

What themes regularly resurface?
The most common themes you can find in my paintings are girlhood, childhood, agriculture, domestic objects, aspects of rainstorms and acidic colors.

www.erickajeffries.com
Instagram | @ericka_jeffries_art