SHIFTING THE
NARRATIVE
Andre Barker Jr.
"I paint the Black experience through the lens of Afro surrealism to show the poetic weirdness of our experience and how uncanny it can be."
Artist Statement
Through visual motifs like color, lighting, and symbolism, I emphasize the surreal experience of being a person of color. By focusing on trauma's aftermath rather than the trauma itself, my goal is to convey vulnerability and humanize my subjects by capturing their essence in each painting. My work visualizes the alienating core of the Black experience, exposing the stress and anxiety that arise from the burden of performance and the pressures of Black excellence, leading to a heightened awareness of self in environments filled with hate and misunderstanding.
The Gallery
About Artist
Andre Barker Jr. (he/him) is a figurative painter from Detroit, Michigan. He graduated summa cum laude with his BFA from Wayne State University in 2022 and his MFA from Columbia College Chicago in 2024. Barker is currently an Adjunct Professor at Wayne State and represented by M Contemporary Art Gallery in Michigan. Barker has received multiple awards, including two from Wayne State and a Diversity and Inclusion Award from Columbia College Chicago. His work has been exhibited at various venues, including The 3 Square Art Gallery, the inaugural Atlanta Art Fair, the Detroit Historical Museum, and his debut solo show at M Contemporary Art in 2024.
Instagram: @andrebarkerart
Email: alo313art@gmail.com