Angelita Hampton

Lives and works in Indianapolis, IN, USA

Artist statement

In the styles of contemporary expressionism, I primarily create empowered images of people of color. Much of my work reflects issues of social justice. I enjoy the process of creation through experimentation and layering, and I often prefer producing prints created as a series of the same base image, reimagined in a variety of expressions, as part of an examination of the concepts of wholeness and separateness. I employ a concept in my work that I define as “presumed blackness” wherein I create images of black people without the use of traditional skin tones but rather use vibrantly colored backgrounds overlaid with black outlined faces or bodies with predominant or typical features associated with black people such as natural hairstyles- afros, locks, braids- or wider noses and fuller lips. This element of presumed blackness encourages the viewer to engage the subject without the immediate presumptions or judgments that might accompany viewing subjects with black skin. The emotive quality of the complex and colorful backgrounds combined with the evocative and emotional portraits provides transparency to the subject. This allows me to play with the idea that color is only skin deep while maintaining the integrity and vitality of cultural representation. This contrasts with common practices of viewing black people as objects or as only black without context and without engaging us as valid or valuable subjects. In addition, because blackness has been commodified in so many...

Artwork