DERRIANN PHARR: I Am a Bloodstone

Derriann Pharr’s mixed media work conjures abstract drawing, painting, and poetic expression in a quest to free the human figure from societal norms and conventional notions of aesthetics and beauty. Drawing from her own experiences as a Black biracial woman grappling with self-esteem while facing societal expectations, Pharr's commitment to liberating her figures stands as a response to her observation of “a lack of intrinsic and physical consideration of marginalized bodies in the American South.”

At the core of Pharr’s artistic practice are themes of transformation, personal growth, and self-acceptance. Each work serves as a deliberate effort to deconstruct and reconstruct deeply rooted beliefs regarding identity, while also incorporating forms that have been historically overlooked in figure drawing, which often idealizes the human body. Rendered with pastel and acrylic on heavyweight black paper, vivid shades of magenta, glowing yellows, dreamy azures and radiant jewel tones infuse her works with an undeniable energy. The figures exist in a state of ambiguity, twisting and turning among lush arrangements of plants, ultimately evolving into spiritual representations of their authentic selves.

Pharr’s figures transcend the constraints of naturalistic representation by shapeshifting in a dynamic interplay of gestural marks, their contours fluid and otherworldly, defying the realities and confines of societal norms and expectations. Pharr’s affinity for vibrant colors evokes the peculiarities of childhood and gendered color preferences, wherein young girls often embrace and express a passion for bright hues before succumbing to insecurities and adopting more subdued palettes.

In I Am a Bloodstone, Pharr envisions landscapes untainted by the injustices of our imperfect humanity. These vibrant scenes emerge as a response to the prevailing sociopolitical environment, serving as a call to embrace personal authenticity as a form of resistance. Distorted depictions of eyes, limbs, genitalia, and therianthropic figures intertwine with vegetation, symbolizing a harmonious relationship between human essence and the natural world. The figures glisten and find solace beneath protective botanical canopies that connect our existence with theirs. The interplay of soft and hard along with the fusion of grittiness and smoothness, reflects the intricate tapestry of emotions and experiences that define the human spirit.