Today we’d like to introduce you to Kierra Reese.
Hi Kierra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Hello, my name is Kierra Reese, and I am a multidisciplinary artist based in Providence, Rhode Island, currently pursuing my BFA in Illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design. I have been making art my entire life, but in high school my focus began to shift, and I started using art as an outlet for my internal feelings. I was only ever exposed to people of the same race. However, as I transitioned into high school, I was introduced to a setting opposite to my childhood, challenging the lens through which I viewed the world. This unique perspective has led me to dissect intricate parts of my identity and influences several concentrations in my portfolio, including racial identity, intersectionality, and the nuances of inner conflict. My artwork is a means to explore social bias as it shapes my experiences.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Art wasn’t always smooth for me, but it was natural. In middle school, I did what every artist in middle school does and drew fan art of my favorite anime characters. I grew up in a low income house hold so getting good supplies wasn’t always easy, but I made do with what I had. The real challenge was high school. I went to a school that specialized in the arts, so when I entered, most students had formal training that I lacked. It was like a constant game of catch-up artistically and academically. I wanted to prove myself, so I took on every extracurricular and AP class. I ran into endless challenges however, they all gave me grit and formed me into the person I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create vibrant hyperrealistic paintings and high-contrast charcoal drawings to investigate how prejudice in contemporary culture distorts human identity. My practice is rooted in visual narratives derived from personal experiences, using them as a lens to explore the larger question of what shapes human identity. By transforming my background into tactile narratives, I invite viewers to reevaluate their own experiences and preconceptions. I am mostly proud of how I developed my motifs over time. When I first started, I was making artistic decisions without a distinct reason; however, over the years, I’ve been able to identify these characteristics and use them proactively.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Look for mentorship in the people surrounding you. My art teachers, Ms.Gee and Ms. Hogue, played a fundamental role in my development as an artist and student. I feel as though they really pushed me to convey my ideas effectively and experiment with many different mediums. In fact when I entered ninth grade I had no painting experience, and after my first still life I remembered hating the process because I would always get stuck in the ideal of having everything be perfect from the beginning, however through their guidance they taught me that art and life has an awkward ugly stage and even though its ugly it the unraveled part where you learn the most about how to make an amazing piece of work. They made art and school a safe outlet for me, and I owe them everything for that.
Pricing:
- I sell aprox. 10x15in prints for $15
- For commissions or inquiry about purchasing an artwork please contact me via email: Kierrareese42@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kierrareeseart.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k1k1.4rt/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kierra-reese-69b8b02b5/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@k1k1_r
- Email: Kierrareese42@gmail.com
