This piece is part of a painting series that is inspired by society’s forced standards, labels, and restraints that are placed on people, especially on African Americans. My intent was to use my voice to point towards a kind of joy and freedom that we all long for, the kind that breaks society’s chains and creates helpful and life-giving dialogue. Through improvisation and abstract brushwork, juxtaposed with hard lines and refined figures & structures, I am attempting to communicate the contrast between my chaotic thought process and the realizations of truths that are taking place.