W_KENNEDY_‘Boy with Durag’ Large

NOTES ON RESILIENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT

June 25 - August 25
An exhibition of portraiture by Meclina Gomes & William Kennedy

Following up on the exhibition, Looking at Black Portraiture on view last fall, the Art Museum presents a pop-up exhibition by local artists exploring themes of freedom, history, and power in celebration of Juneteenth.

Meclina Gomes

Artist Bio

Meclina Gomes is a contemporary artist based in New England. Her paintings, drawings, and mixed media work often features micrography, an ancient technique that uses lettering as a foundational design element.
gomes-priestley-jwjohnson (L+R) (471.64 dpi)_01 Large

Meclina Gomes
James Weldon Johnson,
2015
Micrography India Ink and Watercolor
16" x 20"

M_GOMES_All Mothers

Meclina Gomes
All Mothers,
2022
Micrography India Ink and Watercolor
16" x 20"

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Photo by Kayla Conner

 

 

William Kennedy

Artist Bio

Born in 1987 in SE Washington, DC, William's creativity started at a young age, by simply drawing any and everything around him. At the age of 10, he moved to New Bedford, MA, where his focus shifted to sports, while still drawing in his spare time. He played on various sports teams, including Varsity Basketball & Track at NB High. He later attended Umass Dartmouth, where he continued his sports career. Although William took art classes, here and there, throughout his school years, Art was never really thought of as more than a hobby. Only to later realize, his natural talents would lead him to the self-made artist he is today. As a self-taught artist, he became a freelance designer and illustrator, working s such for the past 10 years. A little over a year ago, he has included Contemporary Painting, which has now become his main focus. Using mediums, such as, acrylic on canvas and charcoal on paper/canvas, a lot of his work focuses on urban culture, with each piece having its own meaning. His work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions in galleries and museums, including London, Detroit and MA
Artist Statement

Currently my work focuses on black male figures. I try to show the emotions and feelings of black males that often are overlooked or even possibly misinterpreted by society. My current mediums consist of acrylic paint on canvas and charcoal on paper. My ultimate goal as an artist is to prove to people that look like me that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, regardless of what you’ve been through.
W_KENNEDY_‘Boy with Durag’ Large

William Kennedy
Boy with Durag, 2024
Acrylic on Birch wood panel
30" x 40"

W_KENNEDY_‘Untitled’ Large

William Kennedy
Untitled, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
30" x 40"