SlvrRm Exhibition
The Silver Room Exhibition features solo and group art exhibitions and programming organized by Chicago-based guest curators. Exhibitions include the annual 100 Canvases auction and fundraiser for The Silver Room Sound System Block Party. To inquire about exhibition opportunities, contact thesilverroomexhibitions@gmail.com.
DON'T WAKE ME UP
Featuring the works from Chicago-based painter Raven Smith, Don't Wake Me Up offers a glimpse into the alluring and fantastical world Smith has created. Influenced by the nature of cinematography, Smith’s figurative posture captivates viewers in the suspense and embodied personas within their work. Through a solo exhibition of broad, cinematic paintings, Smith broadens our temptation to escape and question whether to remain in their world or return.
The Silver Room welcomes you to experience Don't Wake Me Up and view Smith’s collection of work on view June 3-July 1.
Artist Bio
Raven Smith
Website | Instagram
Raven Smith is a contemporary artist currently located in Chicago, IL. Her primary medium is oil paint on varied surfaces such as canvas, panel, plexiglass, etc. and she specializes in figurative work. Currently her work gives an ode to the escapist nature of cinematography and analyses human color psychology relationships.
Raven's work has always been influenced by her immediate surroundings and experiences. Her high observant nature always sneaks its way into her practice. Her work simultaneously challenges the viewer to pay just as much attention to detail as they search for potential mishaps placed for them to find or reflect deeper about an emotion experienced humanly.
Raven's interest in creation emerged at the young age of five and never left. She experimented with illustration, jewelry, graffiti, paperworks, sculpture, fashion, and nail art before committing to her love of capturing the figure. She spent her high school years developing her artistic foundation at The Chicago High School for the Arts where she graduated as a member of the Visual Arts conservatory majoring in Painting andDrawing. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is her current professor where she studies Painting, Film, and Fashion. She is set to receive her Bachelors of Fine Art inMay 2022.
Raven has shown work all over the Chicago Land Area including venues such as, Expo Chicago ( Navy Pier), Black Creativity ( Museum of Science and Industry), and even has a public sculpture located in the Oakland community. Now Raven is working toward the completion of two new series around her present inspirations of escapism and emotion and is in preparation for her second solo show in 2023.
Artist Statement
I am an African American, female, artist that specializes in figurative oil painting.Currently, my work focuses on creating images that depoliticizes the black body by using monochromatic color schemes to depict the figure’s emotional state or placing costumed figures within surreal spaces. I spend the majority of my time creating themed, fabricated environments for costumed figures to belong in. These surreal spaces aid in the transformation of my friends into any imagined character I choose while also allowing me to escape the harsh things that I would rather not acknowledge in reality. Surreal fantasies can feel better than reality. They are places lacking responsibilities and obligations. Created worlds of the mind that can be imperfectly perfect. Ultimately spaces of no negativity. I work from original photographs that Istage and edit to create work that mimics surreal cinematic shots. I later transform thesephotographs into manipulated oil paintings. Tweaking intentional details within the image, I fool the viewer’s mind into glancing over subtle mishaps within the depicted scene. I work from photographs because they represent the fine line between capturing reality and capturing a completely fabricated or staged set up. I also harness the seductiveness of saturated color in my work to trap spectators' attention until they see what initially appeared to be an ordinary scene is actually problematic. James Baldwin once said, “the role of the artist is exactly the same as the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don't see.” I am now an artist creating work that does just that by making my audience question what they see and how they feel, while simultaneously creating a new perspective on black artists' work.
Artist Statement
I am an African American, female, artist that specializes in figurative oil painting.Currently, my work focuses on creating images that depoliticizes the black body by using monochromatic color schemes to depict the figure’s emotional state or placing costumed figures within surreal spaces. I spend the majority of my time creating themed, fabricated environments for costumed figures to belong in. These surreal spaces aid in the transformation of my friends into any imagined character I choose while also allowing me to escape the harsh things that I would rather not acknowledge in reality. Surreal fantasies can feel better than reality. They are places lacking responsibilities and obligations. Created worlds of the mind that can be imperfectly perfect. Ultimately spaces of no negativity. I work from original photographs that I stage and edit to create work that mimics surreal cinematic shots. I later transform these photographs into manipulated oil paintings. Tweaking intentional details within the image, I fool the viewer’s mind into glancing over subtle mishaps within the depicted scene. I work from photographs because they represent the fine line between capturing reality and capturing a completely fabricated or staged set up. I also harness the seductiveness of saturated color in my work to trap spectators' attention until they see what initially appeared to be an ordinary scene is actually problematic. James Baldwin once said, “the role of the artist is exactly the same as the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don't see.” I am now an artist creating work that does just that by making my audience question what they see and how they feel, while simultaneously creating a new perspective on black artists' work.
ARE YOU A VISUAL ARTIST LOOKING TO EXHIBIT YOUR WORK?
Related Posts
Building More Than Just A Home
Zuri Heritage Fashion Practices
