The Prophetesses, A Preface 2021

Lanise Howard painted these two figures, "The Prophetesses, A Preface," with oil. Look at how the colour moves like water, pooling in the deep folds of the dresses. I imagine she built up these forms slowly. There’s something about the way the figures are placed on this checkerboard that suggests a stage. A stage for thought? The colours and tones create a somber mood which is offset by the presence of the hummingbirds. They feel as though they are sharing a secret with the women, or perhaps with us. Notice how the flowers on the left echo the floral motif on the one woman's dress. It’s as if the painting is in conversation with itself, a quiet hum of visual echoes. Howard reminds me of early Kerry James Marshall, or even Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, artists who also use figuration as a way to explore identity and representation. Ultimately, this piece feels like a question, an opening, rather than a statement.