Jaraz Jenkins

My work expands on identity as well as contemporary social conflict. As a black man, I am compelled to create paintings that reflect my personal experiences in relation to the social climate and African American culture. Portraiture, which is prominent in my paintings, relates a story told solely through human expression. My palette is clustered with semi-dry oil paints, creating its own skin and texture. Texture in my paintings symbolizes toughness. The tough personas black Americans must adapt to and present, as well as the tough environments in which people must endure. My current work has focused on portraits of Modern-Day Heroes, black men and women of the 21st-century who have become martyrs of their time. Their lives shine a bright light on the existing inequality that people of color still face today. I want to continue this series of paintings, of portraits and scenery, which expresses the strength and resilience of African American people in 2020.