As April look back, she realized her weakness had become her strength 2020

Lanise Howard made "As April looks back, she realized her weakness had become her strength," a portrait in oil of a woman with pixelated hair. I find the way the pixelated hair contrasts against the soft, brushed background and clothing fascinating; the contrast feels intentional. It's like Howard is playing with the idea of identity in the digital age. Looking closely, you can see the textures in the woman's hair, shirt and jeans, achieved through the layering of thin glazes of paint. This is contrasted with the flat, opaque squares of the pixelated hair, like two different worlds colliding on the canvas. I really like the way she handles the folds of the kimono, which have a soft but confident, fluid feel. For me, the painting speaks to how we construct our identities, both in real life and online. It makes me think about someone like Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, who also paints portraits that are both familiar and mysterious, leaving space for the viewer to bring their own interpretation.