Art and Storytelling

Can you separate the art from the artist?

Artists share storytelling, or visual narratives, of their lives and the lives and world around them. This may be intentional - as artists share an image of a historical or cultural event, or about a person in particular. It can also be unintentional - as artists, like all people, are inspired and influenced by the changing landscape around them. Art, especially contemporary art, is a reflection of the world and people around us. We can learn more about the art or artist, to understand their reasons, or stories behind their work and process.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Let’s look at the work of artist Olaniyi R. Akindiya. Olaniyi shares this about their work: “TILL DEATH DO US PART #2” is a collection of photography slides donated by 6,379 people from 138 countries. These are photo slides of their families’ occasions: celebrations, family photos, life histories, and marriages. It spans many years and many lives across the world.”

Check out Olaniyi’s piece during ArtPrize at Monroe Community Church!