only one that thought that way about this collection at first.
The collection that attracted me the most were the Icons - every piece was vibrant in color and expression. They automatically make you smile. If you know me, you know my love for music. Maybe that is why I related to those pieces? Who knows? I may relate to his other collection “Fear of a Black Planet” next time I visit his gallery. This collection marries his love for pop culture, animation, and vibrant color to a deeper dialogue about fear, race disrupting the dominant narrative and the Black experience in America. What is America afraid of?
That surely is the question.
His work allows him to release whatever he may be dealing with mentally and I also wanted to know how his art helped his clients through the hard times and especially during 2020. He lit up after hearing that question, this is how you know someone works their passion and not a job. One collector (and friend) shared:
“Vakseen's work is something like a panacea. The pieces I own from his body of work have challenged me to grow in ways I never imagined … His art has truly saved my life by serving as a much needed motivator in ensuring I'm becoming more of myself, living each day boldly with intention, vulnerability, courage, and perseverance through whatever challenges life may bring.”
Intentional with the colors he chooses for each piece, Vakseen believes each color carries energy on their own and the way they interact with each other. He says there is emotion behind each color and emotion in the subject of the portrait itself. There are multiple layers to everything created. He always heard people comment on how colorfully bold they were, but he never realized how this was psychologically healing people.
“A number of people have shared with me how my art has kept them inspired and given them hope all in different ways. If I can inspire someone through these hard times, I am serving my purpose.” He believes that while we had to stay at home and things were taken away from us it made us see that we have been living in white walls and we’ve realized that we need some inspiration. I couldn't agree more!
Electric Miles