October Sharify

Lives and works in Chicago, IL

Artist statement

My work serves to explore the many facets of blackness and femininity, to provide a kaleidoscopic lens through which to view myself and those like me. To create an avatar to act out thoughts, emotions, and tumults that we all experience via the medium of painting and sculpture. The work has been a way for myself to work through states like fear, desire, existentialism, and irony poisoning- in a way that I feel the black femme has seldom been allowed to be depicted before. I want my work to confront myself, others, and painting tradition by using imagery that can be visceral and at times uncanny. My signature limited palette is a shorthand for the surreal, otherworldly space that these conversations take place in. By contrasting cultural elements and features with chemical hues and acidic comedy, I believe we can start to process our anger, our elation, our horror, and our big picture questions.

Artwork