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Kirk Henriques

Cornell University

Discourse, 2020
oil, oil paint chips, and house paint on wood panel, 32 x 24 inches


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Tell us about the work that you have submitted.
In this painting entitled Discourse, the viewer experiences the composition from the outside-of-the-fence-looking-in-at-the-figures who are comfortable in their own space. It embodies conversations and the empowerment one feels to express freely within their space. The landscape is abstracted into color fields, and I fragmented the faces into planes using dried oil paint. This is an exploration into spaces and accessibility to them and how fences are a social construct.

How would you describe your studio practice?
My studio work is multidisciplinary. I apply different media to best fit the exploration. Currently, I paint figures that are at odds with their surroundings and simultaneously integral to them. These multi-layered depictions speak to the complexity and endless layers of a person, exploring between the visible that is obscure and the visible that is perceptible.

What motivated you to apply to the AXA Art Prize?
As an emerging artist, I recognize the opportunity the AXA Art Prize gives as a platform to introduce my work to art enthusiasts outside the reach of my studio. I decided to apply after my classmate forwarded a link to the website.

Website: www.kirkhenriques.com
Instagram: @kirkaworks