COMMUNITY PROFILE REBIRTH OF AFRODITE (2022), is a rendition of Alexandre Cabanel’s Birth of Venus (1863). “Here, Afrodite is sitting in her shell. I did this as a reminder that I, along with all Black women, will not stand to be disrespected, overlooked, or taken advantage of. For this painting, I drew from one of SZA’s many iconic photo shoots.” Birth of Venus” and “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” which center around what she referred to as “the elegance of white women,” Redwine’s paintings are abstract renditions that represent the subjects as Black women, instead. Inspiration for her series struck while Redwine was attending an art history lecture. According to Redwine, she noticed the misrepresentation of Black women in great historical works of art and observed that when they were featured in paintings, elegance, and grace were often reserved for white models. Redwine uses art to process various feelings such as grief, liberation, and acceptance. While finding her voice as a Black woman in America — in spaces that are predominantly white — she is also in the process of finding her artistic voice. “My purpose is figuring out how to create work I’ve always wanted to see growing up. I think representation is so important, and growing up, I didn’t see enough representation,” Redwine said. “I went to a predominantly white high school, and now, I go to a predominantly white university. My paintings focus on the experience of a Black woman in places that aren’t normally diverse. I like to focus on the perspective of Black people and women, more specifically.” People in Redwine’s life have inspired her work. This includes her family and the artists she looks up to. Vincent van Gogh, Winslow Homer, and Long Beach-based artist Torin Ashtun are all Redwine’s primary artistic influences. According to Redwine, she hopes to own an art gallery, where she can showcase her work while also emphasizing the work of other BIPOC artists. She also said that as she grows as an artist, her work will continue to reflect and shine a light on the uplifting aspects of being a Black woman. ■ AFRODITE (2021) The first piece in “Black by Popular Demand” is Redwine’s rendition of “Birth of Venus” (1486) by Sandro Botticelli. “I was inspired by Ebonee Davis’ January 2020 Essence magazine photoshoot. I purposely changed the pose of Afrodite’s body so she would embody confidence with her arms stretched at her side rather than covering her body with shame.” PHOTO COURTESY OF ALESSIA REDWINE I’M THAT GIRL (WITH THE PEARLS) (2022) is a rendition of Johannes Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665). “This piece was inspired by Zendaya’s 2020 Essence cover. I wanted to challenge myself with using materials that were 3D, seeing as though I felt unsure on how to paint so many pearls on her headwrap.” May 2023 DENVER VOICE 7
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