Tschabalala Self is an American artist best known for her depictions of Black female figures using paint, fabric, and discarded pieces of her previous works. Though she uses mixed media, all of her works are on canvas and employ a "painting language." Inspired by works done by an African-American artist, Romare Bearden, Tschabalala Self creates collages of various items that she has collected over time and sews them together to depict black female bodies that "defy the narrow spaces in which they are forced to exist", which she derives from the history behind the African-American struggle and oppression in society. Self reclaims the black female body and portrays them to be free of stereotypes without having to fear being punished. Her goal is to "create alternative narratives around the black body". Much of Self's work uses elements from black culture to construct quilt-like portraits.
Self has said, "I use materials in an unconventional way to subvert the status quo. You don’t have to use paint to make a painting. It aligns with my overall message, which is one of change." The use of unconventional materials help to highlight the unique shapes of a body because it separates the emphasis of each part from the whole structure of the artwork and creates an individual space for the pieces to express rather than to perform for the audience. Self starts her artwork with a line drawing of the character she wants to illustrate, then takes different objects to create her collage of items to go over that drawing. She uses shapes to build her characters while emphasizing objects or parts of the body that might be noticed first or carry a psychological or physical weight to them. Several of Self's works are sexually explicit. Self’s Rainbow piece, which consists of wood, acrylic paint, and other elements, portrays a black woman bending down, exposing her genitalia. Another of Self’s work Swim involves a man and woman joined together in a sexual act while still displaying certain parts of the body that hold more emphasis, in particular, the buttocks. The black female bodies in her artwork are often described as nonbinary or "genderless" because they do not conform to the westernized form of beauty that is usually seen in the art world. Tschabalala Self's art style revolves around the representation of black women through primary and secondary sexual characteristics by painting and utilizing printmaking. In developing her characters, Self exclaims, "The images all start from a drawing. And from that drawing I try to build a body or build the features of the subject I’m creating… I think that they are really sincerely built bit by bit.", the body is made up of several different yet crucial parts which makes the body exaggerations in people complex with layers of racial discrimination and prejudice following along stigmas. Through her art, Self comments upon the normalization and objectification of the body with a romanticized perspective. The characters illustrated in her artworks all share exaggerated body and facial features, and in doing so, allude to a racial and generational trauma embedded within each painting. The people in her artwork are made from different textures and prints of clothing which emphasize and direct the attention of the audience towards the most significant part in her artwork. Her particular artistic style gravitates towards black women embracing independence and resilience leaving a strong and fierce presence. Self’s approach is most commonly androgynous and does not solely reference one gender. ----
Works
One of Self's most prominent works, The Function, sheds light into the social aspect of the art piece and explains the abstract nature of the figure and its background. Tschabalala states in an interview, “A stereotype is a flat character with two dimensions. And I can confront those stereotypical images by making round, multidimensional characters with complicated desires, inner dialogues, and psychology." The art piece is created by patching together pieces of old paintings, raw canvas, and fabrics which are assembled by stretching, painting and drawing over them. This gives the avatar a greater sense of dimension as it highlights the dynamic motion of turning one’s back indicated by the creased fabric. Furthermore, Self said in an interview, "My work does not comment on stereotypes and generalizations about the black female body, my practice absorbs these fantasies. The work is celebratory because one must thrive despite destructive rhetoric." Self’s avatar portrays a great deal of confidence. The way her body is angled reveals her exposed chest and creates a divided space between her range of motion and the peripheral vision of the audience. The avatar flaunts her conviction by placing her hand suggestively on her rear, which in Self’s perspective, is an act of self-awareness, courage, and ownership of one's body. This statement explains the explicit nature of Self's, The Function, because the expressive body language of how the avatar is glaring into the viewer suggests a direct confidence in the individual's intention, mind, and purpose. This is almost as if the viewer is pulled into the life of the avatar and thus, is able to understand the racial connotations of being a woman in a black community while maintaining a strong presence in public. The eyes in background allows the avatar to revert the gaze onto the viewer which brings to light the judgmental attitude towards women of color in public settings.
''Bodega Run''
Through her project of a series called Bodega Run, Self explores how bodies are affected by their environment, which also impacts the way the bodies move through the world itself. Bodegas are small grocery stores, or also known as liquor stores, that are commonly found on the east coast of America, specifically New York. Self’s inspiration for this project stems from her hometown of Harlem, where bodegas were and are very common. Self, along with many others, believes that bodegas are a place where communities come together that share mutual issues, such as the issue of the oppression of people of color in America. Her Bodega project stems from this belief and her "characters populating the bodegas of Harlem, these groceries of the corner, true microcosms emblems of the black and Latin diasporas in New York". Part of this series is her works she calls Hammer Projects include Rainbow, Big Red, My Guy, Ice Cream, and Loosie in the Park. Self also includes neon light signs, consisting of words such as “Abierto/ Open”, “Coffee/ Teas”, “EBT/ ATM”, and “Lotto”, which represent the LED lights that typically reside in these facilities.
Recognition
Self has been named to Forbes "30 Under 30 List". She has also been recognized as a Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters & Sculptors Grant recipient.
