In her artist statement, Amy Sherald explains that her cultural art explores how a "performing aspect of [her] identity was cultivated from the beginning of [her] schooling. [She] learned this was the key to [her] social acceptance and assimilation."
The act of performing culture in order to fit in can often be where someone's social and personal differences stand out the most as it is a constant exercise in clashing with an identity that doesn't quite fit right. Sherald expresses her knowledge of how identity is a formulated construction that she discovered through experiences in her early childhood as an African American female brought up in the deep south.
Her cultural art is a lively collection of vibrant portraits that use vivid colors and careful planning of costume to depict character.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Cultural Identity
- Opportunity to disrupt traditional artistic expressions and explore diverse cultural identities through art.
- Performing Culture
- Potential for innovative approaches to understanding and representing the complexities of cultural assimilation and social acceptance.
- Personal Differences
- Space to explore and challenge societal norms and stigmas surrounding personal differences and individual identity.
Where This Applies
- Art and Design
- Disruptive innovation opportunities for artists and designers to create unconventional pieces that challenge conventional beliefs and elevate cultural expression.
- Education and Psychology
- Potential for disruptive innovation in educational and psychological sectors to develop new approaches and tools for understanding cultural identities and personal differences.
- Fashion and Costume
- Opportunity to redefine fashion and costume design by incorporating cultural elements and promoting inclusivity in personal expression.
