Jabari Jefferson
DEVOTION
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The Bishop Gallery is pleased to present “Devotion” the debut solo exhibition of Jabari Jefferon. The exhibition features 10 works meticulously created during Jefferson’s year-long residency at The Bishop Gallery’s artist residency program.
Jefferson’s mixed media practice amalgamates collage-making and portrait painting, pushing the limits of each genre. His sourced materials include pre-owned, repurposed objects such as fabric, paper, and foil as well as books from his family’s library. Through the imagery he creates, Jefferson aims to encourage self-exploration and covertly raise the consciousness within African-American society. Drawing inspiration from art movements such as Surrealism, Pop Art, and Afrofuturism, Jefferson’s artworks on display elevate the existence of esoteric Black subjects. By using recognizable elements of Black life such as the remnants of African-American fashion items and and the physical inclusion of Black-conscious books, Jefferson is able to depict lived experiences in a manner easily recognizable to members of his particular community. As well, scenes of community building can be recognized through depictions of social interactions and rituals between intergenerational community members. Thematically, the works in Devotion entangle religious iconography with the depiction of things Jefferson has found personally inspiring to his art making journey. Together, images of anime characters and hip-hop album covers along with Renaissance art references are used by Jefferson to catapult himself into the lexicon of influential African-American artists that have come before him. Upon examination, Devotion delivers philosophical questions around what it looks like to dedicate yourself to a singular intention, and challenges what those outcomes may manifest into. Jefferson’s debut solo exhibition is guided by the curation of Thomas James, which also marks James' debut curation in New York City. James critically steers Jefferson in the direction of ‘less is more’. Leading Jefferson to create only 10 works for the exhibition including one sculptural piece depicting Jefferson’s family lineage. |
#TheBishopGallery
630 Flushing ave, Brooklyn630 Flushing Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205 View Map info@thebishopgallery.com Hours: Saturday 12-6pm & By appointment ArtistJabari Jefferson
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