JANATHEL SHAW
About the Artist
Janathel Shaw is a ceramic sculptor and portrait artist who focuses on social justice and seeks to illustrate the "humanness" of Black Americans in her art. The themes of resilience, spiritual journeys, critical dialogue, and vision are incorporated. She examines the role "racism" plays in the lives of Black Americans in terms of perception, treatment, and as contributors to American society. In doing so, she invites understanding. The narrative is embedded in her body of art. Sometimes, the message is clear and may include clues that the viewer pieces together to form their opinion.
Her sculptures reveal her love of the medium: texture, modeling, malleability, and the unique qualities of varied clay bodies. She is respectful of the many historical and universal cultural influences. The Dogon people are known for their funerary and deity sculptures. As in the case of her sculpture Grief for Philando Castile, the angel is a vessel for an altar for Philando Castile. The angel depicts sorrow over his untimely death.
Shaw's drawings and prints show an appreciation for the drawn mark, value, implied texture, and the texture of the paper. She could imply form and three-dimensional quality to the image or enjoy an illustrative appearance. Drawings are another form of a novel. They have a voice. The lines, space, layers, and choice of materials act as the characters and storylines. Janathel's portfolio is a diary of her experiences and documentation of social history. Her most recent solo exhibition at Touchstone was Unspoken Messages: the Art of Janathel Shaw (2015)
Looking Beyond the Veil
Past and Present Converged
Portrait of Percy Martin