Artist Statement:
A great part of my work is devoted to ideas that I hope will inspire the viewer to a greater awareness of their spiritual existence. An important component in this quest is my use of figurative symbolism. I see the human figure as the best medium for portraying the complexities of the human spirit and emotions while still offering a level of legibility to the viewer. I am also committed to portraying people of color as fully developed characters, which is still sad to say, a rarity in western art.
When we look throughout history, an important way that we analyze the values and progress of any culture is to look at the art that they produced. Tragically, people of African decent when portrayed in a Euro-centric environment have routinely been characterized as servants, comic figures, and brutes.
For this reason, one of my aesthetic goals as an African American artist is to help create a more balanced and insightful image of people of color and to commemorate the important contributions they have made to our culture. When people look back to our time, I want them to see a new image of African Americans emerging - one of independence, dignity, confidence, and of a people fully participating in all facets of their society.
David S. Newton
When we look throughout history, an important way that we analyze the values and progress of any culture is to look at the art that they produced. Tragically, people of African decent when portrayed in a Euro-centric environment have routinely been characterized as servants, comic figures, and brutes.
For this reason, one of my aesthetic goals as an African American artist is to help create a more balanced and insightful image of people of color and to commemorate the important contributions they have made to our culture. When people look back to our time, I want them to see a new image of African Americans emerging - one of independence, dignity, confidence, and of a people fully participating in all facets of their society.
David S. Newton