An art exhibition of acrylic paintings by Chris Clark.

Exhibition Events

Opening Reception & Panel Discussion │6:00 - 9:00 PM │January 31, 2025

Opening reception and panel discussion for the opening of "Crowns and Trophies” by artist, illustrator, and muralist Christoper Clark. Join us for an engaging panel discussion celebrating the opening of the dynamic group exhibition featuring the works of Chris Clark, Nate Dee, and Djerlens Chery. This thought-provoking conversation will explore how each artist uniquely addresses themes of identity, culture, and societal challenges through their work. "Crowns and Trophies" is a deeply personal exploration of identity, resilience, and the haunting legacy of racism through the lens of my experiences as a Black man in America. This body of work is an homage to the beauty and reverence of Black hair, a fundamental aspect of my identity that holds profound significance. Growing up Rastafarian, I was constantly immersed in the culture and symbolism of dreadlocks, perceiving them as natural crowns representing resilience, wisdom, and strength. These crowns are not just a stylistic choice but integral to who we are and how we navigate the world. Yet, in a society where Black hair is often misunderstood and discriminated against, these crowns can simultaneously be targets. The passage of the CROWN Act is a testament to the ongoing need to protect our right to express and embrace our natural selves in all spaces. Click here to sign up.

Panelists

Christopher Clark

Clark is a self-taught visual artist, illustrator, and muralist living and working in Jacksonville, FL. Art, to him, is a form of journalism. Using acrylic, oil, ink, and spray paint, he explores the rich culture and history of the Black community across the diaspora and the social issues affecting them today. For Clark, reflecting the human figure is very powerful, which is why he uses graphic-style portraiture and figurative works to depict Black life in America through his personal lens of a Black man, husband, and father. At the core of his work is the notion that representation matters. As the artist explains, “By telling my story, I want to help the viewer rediscover theirs.”

Clark’s artwork has been shown in exhibitions around the U.S. and abroad, including his recent solo exhibition “New Growth” at Kent Gallery FSCJ in Jacksonville, FL and “Through Our Eyes: Journey to South Africa” at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He has received multiple art awards and grants for his work. Clark was chosen to participate in the House of Sedulo Artist Residency in London, UK and the Chateau Orquevaux Artist Residency in Champagne-Ardenne, France in 2022-2023. Most recently he completed his first artist fellowship the DEAR (Digital Evolution Artist Retention) fellowship through the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York, New York.

Tierra Armstrong

Tierra Armstrong (b.1997) is a Miami-based painter and muralist. Her paintings depict figures in sacred moments that transcend space and time. She uses religious iconography - colors as symbolism and light emmanations - to articulate the divinity of Black bodies. Her work often explores the balanced duality of feminine and masculine energies irrespective of gender. Influenced by her experiences in Mexico City and Chicago, she draws inspiration for her murals from the self-determinism of communities of color. She has been featured in various exhibitions including Museo del Juguete Antiguo México (Mexico City), and was commissioned to create the first Black Lives Matter mural in Miami in 2020. Learn more about Tierra here.

Djerlens Chery

Djerlens Chery displayed exceptional artistic promise from a young age. His innate talent was cultivated at Dillard High School/Center for the Arts and the Visual Arts & Design Academy (VADA) at Broward College. Known for his remarkable skill in murals, Chery’s large-scale works can be seen at prominent locations throughout Fort Lauderdale. His smaller-scale creations have been featured at esteemed events and venues, including the Bonnet House Museum & Gardens Orchid Festival, Young at Art Museum, Made in Broward, Joseph C. Carter Park, Parker Playhouse, the K.C. Wright Art Show, and during the FatVillage and MASS District Artwalks.

A proud Haitian-American artist, Chery credits the guidance of his mentors as a significant influence on his creative journey. Today, he continues to inspire others as an art instructor for the Parks & Recreation Department of the City of Fort Lauderdale. At the Southside Cultural Arts Center, he shares his passion and expertise with young children, teens, and seniors, fostering creativity across generations. Learn more about DJ here.

Nathan “Nate Dee” Delinois

Born and raised in South Florida, Nathan Delinois (Nate Dee) has numerous influences... this includes his Haitian background and the use of color in a lot of Haitian art, as well as in street art. The design quality of the Art Nouveau movement and the drama of Greek art from the Hellenistic. These elements can be seen in his work. Additionally, he takes some influences from the pop surrealists.

He has been featured in magazines such as Delve, Making Waves, WeMerge, DUO & the Miami New Times. In 2014 The New Times listed him as one of the 10 Miami Artists to follow on Instagram. In 2013 he was also given an Honorable mention by the magazine for their 2013 Miami Masterminds awards. He's been featured on multiple blogs and has displayed his work in exhibits throughout South Florida.

Symphonii Smith-Kennedy

Symphonii Smith-Kennedy is a 23-year-old Jamaican-American artist from South Florida who has fostered her artistic exploration and self-discovery through her education at New World School of the Arts, an art studio with Zero Empty Spaces, and a residency at Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano Beach. She utilizes her art to navigate her identity as a Black queer woman in today’s world, drawing on her lived experiences, boundless imagination, and a fascination with fantasy to shape her work.

Primarily an oil painter, Symphonii also incorporates other mediums to create sequential narratives inspired by Afro-centric culture, Black identity, and fantasy. Her art bridges the personal and the universal, offering viewers a glimpse into themes of resilience, transformation, and possibility.

While painting remains her central focus, Symphonii’s ambitions extend into murals, public art, illustration, and entrepreneurship, showcasing her versatility and commitment to using art as a platform for cultural and creative expression. Learn more about Symphonii here.

About the Exhibition Artist

Clark is a self-taught visual artist, illustrator, and muralist living and working in Jacksonville, FL. Art, to him, is a form of journalism. Using acrylic, oil, ink, and spray paint, he explores the rich culture and history of the Black community across the diaspora and the social issues affecting them today. For Clark, reflecting the human figure is very powerful, which is why he uses graphic-style portraiture and figurative works to depict Black life in America through his personal lens of a Black man, husband, and father. At the core of his work is the notion that representation matters. As the artist explains, “By telling my story, I want to help the viewer rediscover theirs.”

Clark’s artwork has been shown in exhibitions around the U.S. and abroad, including his recent solo exhibition “New Growth” at Kent Gallery FSCJ in Jacksonville, FL and “Through Our Eyes: Journey to South Africa” at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He has received multiple art awards and grants for his work. Clark was chosen to participate in the House of Sedulo Artist Residency in London, UK and the Chateau Orquevaux Artist Residency in Champagne-Ardenne, France in 2022-2023. Most recently he completed his first artist fellowship the DEAR (Digital Evolution Artist Retention) fellowship through the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York, New York.