Laurel Richardson

Parsons School of Design

Artwork title: See Me
oil and ink on canvas | 60 x 50 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
See Me addresses the persecution of black and brown men and youth in today’s current political climate. It prompts viewers to have a different vantage point into the way we view a black body as a subject. Perhaps through the eyes of a child, we can recognize one’s innocence and divinity.

How do you describe your work and practice?
I have an interdisciplinary practice in painting, installation and performance. My work covers social issues concerning those who are marginalized. I explore personal identity and the racial history of African-American communities and the diaspora while seeking to empower the subjects of my work and to create change.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
The AXA Art Prize has been a great platform for an emerging artist working with the figure. Given the current political and social climate in America, I felt an urgency to address the way society treats certain individuals. I wanted to share this image with as many viewers as possible.

What inspires your work?
I am inspired by people I encounter in my community, as well as by the knowledge of history and the chance to have a positive impact. I believe the subject or concept in art can have a powerful voice, and as artists we have the tools to activate change.

www.laurelrichardson.com
Instagram | @laurelarichardson