Keepers of the Door; the resting Place 2020

Curator: Lanise Howard's "Keepers of the Door; the Resting Place," from 2020, is quite striking. The piece seems to rely heavily on acrylic paint to realize its subjects, lending itself to the Neo-Expressionist qualities evident. Editor: There's a serene stillness to the composition, though, wouldn’t you say? The positioning of the two figures—one seated, the other slightly behind—creates a sense of layered perspective, the interplay of vertical and horizontal lines is carefully constructed. Curator: I'm compelled by Howard’s choice of materials—acrylic paints are interesting considering the long trajectory of paint within portraiture. Do you think acrylic’s relatively quick drying time affected her ability to add layers in rapid succession, and do you think that’s relevant here? Editor: Undoubtedly! The luminosity is controlled but effective. The way the artist models light, in broad strokes, has great intensity. Consider, too, the complementary blues against earth tones; those enhance our experience of volume and space. It contributes to the overall effect of realism in some areas. Curator: The geometric elements, in the wall design and in the dress, feel symbolic of the architecture and construction of the individual and shared self, and contribute so much to that layered impression. I’m wondering if her decisions about subject and composition might not point to this Black Arts Movement style and aim at accessibility through familiar subjects? Editor: Those shapes contribute to that layering, I would certainly say so! And even in the details—look how the pink earring draws our attention. It’s fascinating to analyze. But it's about visual harmony too. The details function to provide both compositional stability and areas of interest, thus drawing you back. Curator: And in considering our dialogue together, it becomes clear how inseparable material exploration, process, and formal execution are for producing not only aesthetically moving, but also socially evocative art. Editor: Yes, how the formal aspects contribute to, as you pointed out, the social messaging embedded in the image. Considering art this way always deepens the experience of the work itself.