Color in a Monochrome Frame: Navigating Somerville as an Artist of Color
16″ x 28″
stained glass
As a person of color, I’m often the only one in a group of artists here in Somerville. That experience of being both present and unseen has shaped how I move through creative spaces.
One day, I was given a set of 4×4 glass tiles, each etched with a white design. At first, I put them aside. But later, as I looked at them again, I saw something more. These tiles reminded me of how white artists—though they share the same skin color—are still recognized and valued for their individual perspectives.
I wanted to assemble the tiles into a piece, but something was missing. Then I found it: a bold, colorful recycled coaster. It felt like me. Vibrant. Layered. Unapologetically different. By combining the coaster with the tiles, I created a piece that speaks to contrast, coexistence, and the space I occupy as an artist of color.
This work is more than a composition of materials. It’s a statement of identity, visibility, and the complex beauty of difference.