Release Date: August 9,2024
Akron Soul Train to Exhibit Artists-in-Residence Crystal Miller and Michael Boyd Roman
Public opening reception, Friday, August 30, 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM Exhibits are free and open to the public on Wednesday, August 28 through Saturday, October 5, 2024.
Crystal Miller Unveils Dreamy Afro-Futuristic Exhibit “Queens and Shiny Things”
Akron Soul Train Artist-in-Residence Crystal Miller presents “Queens and Shiny Things,” a collection of fantastical paintings and sculptures that embody Afro-futurism. Marrying African traditions with elements of fantasy, Miller’s art is a personal interpretation of Afro-futurism. This includes a celebration of Afrocentricity through a range of objects—decorative mirrors, combs, jewelry boxes, and press-on nails—that reflect her vibrant childhood. By incorporating kitschy materials, organic patterns, and exaggerated depictions of Black skin, Crystal Miller transforms everyday objects into future artifacts that celebrate a profound sense of Black pride.
“By creating these pieces, I am reclaiming a narrative that society has long suppressed. Through revisiting my past and envisioning the future from a deeply personal perspective, I construct an alternate reality—an escape from the harsh realities of today and a glimpse into a potential utopia where Blackness is freely expressed and celebrated. This immersive experience is designed for the Black community, instilling hope and confidence in our shared future, a future shaped for us and by us.” – Crystal Miller
About the Artist Crystal Miller:
Crystal Miller is an interdisciplinary mixed-media artist currently living and working in Cleveland. She has an Associate in Graphic Design, and a BFA in Painting and Sculpture and Expanded Media at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Miller’s paintings and sculptures explore Afro-futurism using unconventional materials including beads, glitter, rhinestones, and foam. Recent exhibitions include “DRMWRLD” at Maria Neil Art Project in Cleveland, and “Black Spaces: Defying Social Constructs” at Summit Art Space in Akron.
Find Divine Black Beauty in Michael Boyd Roman’s “Negus Wait in Gold”
Artist-in-Resident Michael Boyd Roman unveils “Negus Wait in Gold,” a series that seeks to upend the contextual history of Black portraiture by focusing on images of the highest self. “Negus Wait in Gold” speaks to the unnerving experience of being both hyper-visible and invisible at the same time. The collection explores this constant supervision, either overt or covert, perpetuated by even well-intentioned people. Using mixed-media and charcoal drawings, Roman’s pieces feature the ordinary grace of the contemporary Black experience alongside religious iconography from the spiritual belief systems of the African Diaspora. It is then contextualized in scenes with modern motifs from Hip Hop and pop culture. Divine Black beauty radiates in Roman’s “Negus Wait in Gold,” a new and needed narrative abound.
“In showcasing divine Black beauty, I provide contemporary images that are positive and spiritual to counter long-held historical narratives that are applied to contemporary representations of the Black experience. Using the symbols and iconography of spiritual perfection that have reinforced concepts of white supremacy and hegemony for centuries, I empower my figures to embody and occupy similar positions of prestige, power, and purity.” – Michael Boyd Roman
About the Artist Michael Boyd Roman:
Originally from Atlanta, GA, Michael Boyd Roman (b. 1981) serves as an Assistant Professor of Design & Black Visual Cultures at Oberlin College & Conservatory in NE Ohio. Roman has extensive art education experience in grades K-12 and later as Visual Arts Program Director at Morehouse College in 2013. Roman earned his MFA in drawing at California State University, Northridge in the spring of 2020, an MA in community arts from Maryland Institute, College of Art in 2007, and a BFA in painting from Syracuse University in 2004.
About Akron Soul Train:
Akron Soul Train is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the arts in Akron, Ohio. Through artist residencies, exhibitions, and community engagement initiatives, Akron Soul Train provides resources and opportunities for artists to explore their creativity and contribute to the cultural richness of the region.
For more information about this show, visit our website and events page at www.akronsoultrain.org or contact Pita Brooks, Executive Director at pita@akronsoultrain.org.