Then, people began to care more about the work that I was doing as it related to a moment of national attention to Black lives. I was already working with Black women activists through my By Way of Revolution series. HELINA METAFERIA : For me, the pandemic was initially a moment of introspection and rest, and then quickly picked up when the 2020 uprisings began around the country. SA: How has the pandemic shaped your creative thinking and the way you work? Give advice, be transparent, and educate and prepare another artist the same way my mentor educated and prepared me. The only thing I can do is pay it forward. Give it the time it deserves because it’s all about the journey. Prioritize the work and move at the pace that the work needs. In terms of that I would say: Move at your own pace regardless of what is going on around you. I think that there is also the pressure or an expectation in this age of social media to always be sharing work with the world nonstop, at all times. Most importantly, create the spaces you wish to see or be a part of. HALEIGH NICKERSON: Overall, stay true to what you are doing even if at times it is challenging and even if the world hasn’t caught up yet. I am sure that there will be spectacular achievements in hardware and software to make digital art more tangible in the physical world as well as digitalizing traditional art works and enabling a level of engagement with work to audiences globally that was once not possible. For a large group of artists, the digitalization of art has opened the door for their ability to represent themselves to a large audience and sell work. The rise of NFT’s adds another layer to this topic and will further expand these challenges. The effects of the pandemic further exacerbate this trend in the distancing of people and limitations to physical experiences. I like to think it is impossible to understand my practice without this element.

One thing I have noted over the years regarding audience’s feedback to my work is the importance of physically experiencing them. The essence of physical art works is to see and experience them in person. PATRICK ALSTON: The growing digitalization of the art world is something that many artists are facing today. SA: How do you approach some of the challenges facing your generation of contemporary artists?

I think as an artist it is important to explore current and past histories. We play a key role in documenting our current times and events. RYAN COSBERT: Artists have the power to make their viewers question and spark curiosity of life and reality while also enlightening them. So the artist questions identity and representation through a critique and lens of themselves, which makes the role of an artist to be as honest as they can with themselves and who they truly are. Being able to see a piece of mine, people readily know I made it. Regardless of how I want to perceive or show different narratives, my paintings are always a reflection of me. It is said that every painting is a self-portrait and I feel this to be true. KHARI TURNER: The artist is always holding their own identity. STORM ASCHER: What role does an artist play in exploring questions of identity and representation? Ahead of the New York exhibition at Phillips' 432 Park Avenue gallery, co-curator Storm Asher spoke with the artists about the driving ideas and inspirations behind their work. Co-curated by Anwarii Musa of Artmatic and Storm Ascher of Superposition Gallery, the collection of art objects and concepts aims to facilitate mentorship and conversations between artists at all stages of their practice under the associative notion of the crown - the result is a wide range of expressions and styles respresented through painting, sculpture, photography and more.

Superposition Gallery and Artmatic Art Advisory are pleased to present House of Crowns, an inaugural program of group exhibitions sponsored by Phillips.

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