Gabby Banks

Lives and works in Chicago, IL

Artist statement

There is a rapid commercialization and consumption of Black life. Black bodies have become symbols for political and cultural themes of gender and social standing. I hope to challenge this anti-critical complacency. I believe understanding the clear distinctions between portraiture and figuration (its consumption and application in representational paintings) is the key to gaining a deeper understanding of Blackness. This series of self-portraits examines Black subjectivity through formal appropriations of contemporary artists. Through a multilingual aesthetic diversity, Blackness is able to exist in a multitude of languages and states of being. Within these revisions, a complex humanized perception of Blackness can be illustrated through a diverse exploration of interiority. What does it mean to translate oneself within a painting that challenges authorship? I am interested in puncturing a realm of the imagined through the practices of visual artists to create realities that align with a former, current, future, and non-existent self. Through this repeated process of imitation, in which I render multiple versions of myself, I also hope to uncover new aspects of my existence and presentation as a Black, queer woman in the world. I see these paintings as a vehicle for self-discovery, manifestation, reflection, projection, and ultimately a deeper understanding of my interiority. Through the ongoing pursuit of this project, I will not only be able to track my own human...

Artwork