Raven Smith

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Untitled: Distraction Piece #1, 2019
oil on canvas, 36 x 48 inches

Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
Spectators observe a suspenseful trio saturated in seductive energy. Attentive demeanors contrast dancing pigments while welcoming an otherworldly escape from the mundane. It is subconsciously a way to distract emotionally while simultaneously exposing the flaws of existence. Delusional cinematic hues cause figures to lose grip of reality, allowing them to transform into personas other than themselves. Within this fantasy, we perceive what appears to be ordinary while subtly being made conscious of the obscurity of the subconscious.

How would you describe your studio practice?
My work's goal is to aid in the desegregation of "Black art" from the rest of the contemporary art world. I create oil paintings that depoliticize the Black body by allowing monochromatic moods and captivating surrealism to shift the viewer's attention away from the race of the incorporated figures. I am now an artist creating work that demands my viewers' interactive curiosity while simultaneously creating a new perspective on Black contemporary artists and their work.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
I was interested in the AXA Art Prize for the national exposure, networking opportunities, competition, critique, and response observation. This was also a recommendation by a respected artist that I am inspired by, and I want to add to the competition's racial diversity as a young, Black, female artist.

Website: www.fineartbyraven.com
Instagram: @fine_art_by_raven