LONG LASTING BLACKNESS

ART & DESIGN | COPY

One of the selected artworks for The 100 Canvases Project. The Silver Room is Chicago institution and brand whose mission is to create a global community through art and culture. Artists were called to submit artworks that highlighted Chicago culture and nuances. “LONG LASTING BLACKNESS” is a social critique on the erasure of Black neighborhoods and culture through gentrification in the city. Using commercial communication, the piece hijacks the packaging of Murray’s Pomade, a Chicago-created staple in Black beauty and grooming, ubiquitous in our homes. The familiarity of the classic product makes it almost easy to miss the insertion of my likeness and bold messaging. The title is a salute to the strength of Black culture and an allusion to the long shelf life of Murray’s pomade.