Destiny Arianna

Artist Statement & Bio

This collection of paintings represents my exploration of self through portraiture. Reflecting inspired me to create a series of portraits that highlighted the cultural, physical, and racial aspects of my identity. The paintings on the right focus on physicality. The glamorized and high-end representations of self and the rawness of one's natural state. While the painting closest to the left reflects on how I have contextualized my racial and cultural identities as a Wampanoag, and African American Woman. I created this painting in February of 2020, as it demonstrates the feelings of repression and resistance that I experience as an Afro-Native woman in the context of the American 21st century.

This self-portrait is a representation of myself blindfolded by an American-flag bandana, overpowering the work with its bright colors contrasting the otherwise black and grey canvas, and a broken noose hung along the side, bordering the painting. In reflecting on my racial and cultural identities I wanted to highlight that I come from a lineage of survivors. Despite this country's attempts to erase, murder, and eradicate my ancestors I am here because they survived. These paintings coexist, similarly to the various layers of my identity.