Amaya Loubeau: Creating Original Artwork- 5 points

 

This semester, I had the chance to exhibit my piece L’amour Propre at OTE Arena in Atlantic Station as part of a student showcase. The title translates to self love, and the work really came from my desire to unpack and challenge the ways Black women’s beauty is constantly policed and misunderstood, especially through things like texturism, colorism, and featurism. I used acrylic paint, newspaper, glass, beads, and magazine collage on wood, and the layering was very intentional. It reflects how identity is built, but also how it is projected onto us from the outside.This piece felt personal. It was one of those moments where everything I have been studying about visibility, the Black female body, and representation actually clicked into my own practice. Seeing it installed made me realize I am not just analyzing these ideas, I am contributing to them. It pushed me to trust my voice more as an artist, and reminded me that my work has a place in these conversations. -Amaya Loubeau