Nelson, K. (2021). Ancient Wonders of the World.
This painting shows a liking of a National Geographic cover, with the images of cultural places such as the Egyptian pyramids, with a statue of a black male centered at the forefront of the cover. This represents the contributions of black men as the buildings of many of the world wonders and civilizations, even if slaves, without them, these would not exist, and the black culture so incredibly diverse.
Nelson, K. (2021). Tulsa.
This painting shows a family posing for a family portrait, with everyone keeping a serious disposition, while underneath there is a collage of images of white men holding guns, soldiers, black people in the field and a burning building with a black man standing with his hands up. Black men in antebellum South were strongly segregated, but sought to create a life for themselves and their families, but events such as the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 led to the destruction of a thriving black neighborhood, leaving black men that achieved some socioeconomic success once again with nothing due to racial violence.
Nelson, K. (2021). Homecoming.
This painting shows a couple, or two people, a man and a woman, in front of what is possibly the Brooklyn bridge, hugging and seemingly fond of each other. This demonstrates a black man as loving, compassionate, and tender – words not socially associated with black men, but it is key to understand that everyone is human capable and desiring to feel love and emotion.
Nelson, K. (2021). Black Boy Joy.
This painting shows its subject, a young Black boy, smiling with a wide and content expression on his face. The image of the black boy radiates pure joy and highlights the innocence of childhood, when race is not such a dividing factor and there are opportunities for happiness and freedom of character.
Nelson, K. (2020). Say Their Names.
The painting shows the cover of the New Yorker with the face of George Floyd, but has body is shadowed and in there it shows many faces and then some seeming historic images of police brutality, lynching, plantation slavery, and a woman whose back has been scarred from lashing. This powerful image demonstrates the inhumane treatment and antagonizing history that the Black community has gone through, and how most of these people lost their lives to some abuse from whites – it highlights the character of black men to persevere, to fight on, and stand united, despite even in modern day, black men have almost a 2.5 times higher chance of dying to police or racial violence than any other race.