Brian Dickson Jr.: Unhidden: I Used to Live in Fear

December 01 - January 20,2024

From Arts Fort Worth:

"Unhidden: I Used to Live in Fear is a show that consists of afro-surreal oil and mixed media paintings that visually reveal the spiritual warfare Black Americans endure after rejecting indoctrination and fear. Some pieces display the internal fight to maintain self-love, while others imagine safe spaces for Black people to exist free of persecution. A few of my pieces consist of figures inspired by real people, while others are portraits of myself, family, and friends to share my personal connection to the fight to remain whole amid systemic oppression.

I started creating this body of work during my self-love journey in my ungraduated experience. These paintings helped me develop a visual language to express how I fought to sustain self-love while navigating and decoding covert racism. Themes of safety, spirituality, and confidence are juxtaposed with political and social commentary, prompting viewers to wonder about the divine power that has “kept” generations of Black people safe and sane. I use the contrast of vivid colors and dark themes to invite viewers to engage with controversial subject matter that they would regularly avoid. The range of materials helps express the complexity and depth of emotions Black people experience as we choose to renounce the anxieties of being Black in America. I want to encourage Black people to leave the shackles of fear and live boldly despite our dark past and uncertain future."

Arts Fort Worth 1300 Gendy Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
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