JUST AFRO
NATURAL HAIR IS NOT JUST HAIR
ARTIST STATEMENT
I live and create art in Florida. I Was born in Guadeloupe French territory where I worked for many years as a radio and television host.
My paintings tell my story but also that of all black women around the world, their struggles, embarrassments, sufferings to get their kinky hair accepted.
My style is narrative figuration, I take pleasure in exploiting black paint ; a shade once cursed (because it was perceived difficult to work with) in the history of art. I use oil alone to create the palette, shades of grey and a play of shadows and light enhanced by solid areas of bright color to highlight the hairstyles.
The iconography is reminiscent of the Black Panthers and disco era. Born within African-American movements from the 1970s, these strong representations carried a message of affirmation which the diasporas then appropriated and adapted.
Afro is the symbol of acceptance, natural hair is rooted in a painful history that black diasporas are still trying to overcome.
Thank you for your interest and your support
Guylaine Conquet
FEATURED ART WORK
BANTU
OIL ON CANVAS 36X50 - 2022
Bantu knots originate from the Zulu Kingdom of Southern Africa where the curls and coils of Black hair are said to resemble shapes in the cosmos. "When the Dutch colonized Southern Africa, they used the word Bantu as a derogatory term to marginalize southern Africans." South Africans reclaimed the Zulu word Bantu, which translates to people. In many African regions, hair is considered powerful, and it is believed to have unique spiritual energy due to its proximity to the heavens. Because of this, raised styles like Bantu knots are considered sacred.
TIGNON LAW
OIL ON CANVAS 48 X 52 INCHES 2022
Late 18th century in Louisiana, Black women were banned from wearing their hair in public and were ordered to cover it up at all times. This was because they wanted to curb the growing influence of the free black population and keep the social order. It was also believed that Black women's hairstyles would draw the attention of white men, and this increased the jealousy of white women.
THE PENCIL TEST
OIL ON CANVAS 36 X 42 INCHES - 2022
1948, the pencil test was a method used
to assessing whether a person was White or Black. A pencil was slid into the hair of someone being assessed. If the pencil fell out you were White and if it stayed in you were Black. This was a tool used to segregate
Black people and stop them from attending functions, schools and events. Not only did this cause racial division it also tore families apart
January 11th to March 1st 2023
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SOLO EXHIBITION
Opening reception January 27th Please RSVP via link
GROUP EXHIBITION HARLEM NEW YORK October 2022
GROUP EXHIBITION LONDON August 2022
SOLO EXHIBITION CITY OF SUNRISE FLORIDA May 2022
GROUP EXHIBITION Art and design Week Fort Lauderdale - February 2022
GROUP EXHIBITION BLACK GIRL ART SHOW MIAMI March 2022
GROUP EXHIBITION JOLIET AREA HISTORICAL MUSÉUM Black history month February 2022
GROUP EXHIBITION Art and design Week Fort Lauderdale January 2022
1st Exibition BLACK HISTORY MONTH Group exhibition STUDIO 18 PEMBROKE PINES Florida February 2019
NATIONAL WEEKLY CNW
MAI 19, 2022
FRENCH CONSULAT MIAMI - SUNRISE CIVIC CENTER ART GALLERY
MAI 13, 2022
NOFI MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Link to article NOFI Guylaine Conquet
February 2020
FRENCH MORNING ARTICLE
February 4, 2020
Le courrier de Floride
January 28, 2020
HOLLYWOOD SCHOOL CONFERENCE
February 28, 2020
In her eyes I see the meadows
Her lips were silent
but the hair spoke volumes
guylaine.conquet@just-afro.com