Iriée Zamblé

Iriée Zamblé – Untitled (2020)
Zamblé’s paintings are based on people that she passes throughout the day. The way she paints the people vary; in some paintings the figure looks the other way, unbothered and untouchable. In other paintings the figure looks directly at the viewer, like they long for something from you. At first sight the figures look distant and anonymous, but the way they are painted gives them familiarity and status. It seems like they are telling us stories and in these stories, black people are the standard not the exception.