Kezia Harrell

To Be Precious

-  Shaquille Heath

One painting that really defines Kezia Harrell is a piece called Americana Hot Momma. Harrell, who regularly centers on her nude self, slumbers soundly upon a hill, her face deeply gruntled in the midst of hibernation. Sleeping figures often dream of the magical world around them, but in this playful scene that landscape is the napper’s reality. Centered is her guide, who is no fairy godmother, nor a mysterious rabbit in a hat, but a spirit baby (lovingly named Munki Burrito). Wrapped in purple fur, this guide wafts knowledge cast as sparkles of pink and yellow light into the midst of Harrell’s daydream. As the viewer, you might wonder if it is you who has fallen down a rabbit hole and stumbled into this fantasyland. If so, you would be so lucky. Harrell is an artist who has bequeathed herself to the canvas. She lets her mind run free and allows her inquisitive nature and curiosity about the world to flow out from within. It is this light that beams from her imagination and creates the cartoonish worlds that are present in her paintings. Harrell’s practice extends beyond painting to comic book making and paper dolls—a variety of creative avenues that bring her fancies to life. Sometimes these fantastical compositions hide little fragments of darkness, like Such Gatherings where the wretched faces of men emerge from the earth like pesky garden weeds. Harrell’s figure remains unbothered, using her godgiven gifts to push them back into the ground.

Harrell admits that even she still finds meaning from the meticulous work that is composed, a constant evolution of uncovering and understanding, as so often derived by hindsight. It might be best for us all to take a step back and not question the nonsense. Better yet, let it blow a little light of knowledge into our faces too.