Emblazoned with vibrant patterns and phrases like “TRUTH” and “LOVE,” Simone Elizabeth Saunders explores Black identification in relation to kinship, energy, and survival. Her hand-tufted textiles (beforehand) merge cultural narratives and historical past with mythology, nostalgia, and private experiences.
Saunders predominantly focuses on girls, who she portrays in daring portraits and inside fantastical, empowering eventualities. In current works like “Girl with Butterflies” and “She Manifests Her Destiny,” figures embrace and commune with totem-like snakes, bugs, and crops.
Rooted within the myriad histories of the worldwide Black diaspora and wealthy textile traditions all through numerous cultures, Saunders employs a craft method traditionally relegated to a job “beneath” fantastic artwork with a view to flip the tables on how we comprehend affect, identification, and creative expression.
Saunders is represented by Claire Oliver Gallery, and you may discover extra work on the artist’s Instagram.
