Unsung Heroes: Terence Byas aka Dredske
Past exhibition
Exhibition Statement
When it comes to challenging how we approach issues of race, disparity, and social critique, Dredske’s paintings have transported us to speculative realities that allow us to ask unforeseeable questions. In this exhibition, he diverts his path. Where he once guided viewers through history, he asks us to stop and look at the unsung heroes that exist closer to home. In this body of work, you will not see famous individuals of global acclaim, not even prominent figures like civil rights activist Ella Baker or inventor Louis Latimer, while they still have not claimed the status of household names. In these scenes and portraits, you will see your friend, your neighbor, and even yourself.
Often exploring historical diasporic figures or reconceiving a sense of the Black artist and subject in the white-dominated Western art historical canon, this exhibition takes Dredske’s work into the everyday. Acknowledging the courage and tenacity of those within Black families and communities around the United States, this exhibition centers on recognizing those who have long deserved credit for their achievements and contributions. In doing so, he constructed a series of archetypes: the activist, the doctor, the music maker, and the inventor, among others.
These are not titles that everyday individuals are often given, but they deserve them. Countless musicians have had their creativity stifled and left unheard by the masses. We see mothers and family members who pass down the traditions of healing through the generations, yet they are not known as doctors. These archetypes possess fluidity, allowing multiple to be embodied simultaneously, connecting us across time and space.
Each archetype is placed within a scene. Filled with historical references and cultural symbols, Dredske forms these compositions first through collage. He creates cohesive formations of portraits and expressions intertwined with facets of African American tradition. From this initial groundwork, he paints. Through the faces, objects, and environments, there is a sense of familiarity. His details create pathways for connection. What in the moment feels antiquated and distant somehow still resonates today.
While tackling these new subjects while working from his collages, he maintains his signature loose style of painting. He keeps an aura of spontaneity and expressiveness that is carefully matched by precision, attention to detail, and revising to ensure his works are not overly complicated. He allows each painting to possess a more authentic energy and flow that matches the narratives, stories, and individuals who can connect with his archetypes. From painting to painting, Dredske provides a platform for these voices and an opportunity to share what it means to be a part of these historically overlooked communities so deeply embedded with ingenuity and strength that goes unrecognized.
Often exploring historical diasporic figures or reconceiving a sense of the Black artist and subject in the white-dominated Western art historical canon, this exhibition takes Dredske’s work into the everyday. Acknowledging the courage and tenacity of those within Black families and communities around the United States, this exhibition centers on recognizing those who have long deserved credit for their achievements and contributions. In doing so, he constructed a series of archetypes: the activist, the doctor, the music maker, and the inventor, among others.
These are not titles that everyday individuals are often given, but they deserve them. Countless musicians have had their creativity stifled and left unheard by the masses. We see mothers and family members who pass down the traditions of healing through the generations, yet they are not known as doctors. These archetypes possess fluidity, allowing multiple to be embodied simultaneously, connecting us across time and space.
Each archetype is placed within a scene. Filled with historical references and cultural symbols, Dredske forms these compositions first through collage. He creates cohesive formations of portraits and expressions intertwined with facets of African American tradition. From this initial groundwork, he paints. Through the faces, objects, and environments, there is a sense of familiarity. His details create pathways for connection. What in the moment feels antiquated and distant somehow still resonates today.
While tackling these new subjects while working from his collages, he maintains his signature loose style of painting. He keeps an aura of spontaneity and expressiveness that is carefully matched by precision, attention to detail, and revising to ensure his works are not overly complicated. He allows each painting to possess a more authentic energy and flow that matches the narratives, stories, and individuals who can connect with his archetypes. From painting to painting, Dredske provides a platform for these voices and an opportunity to share what it means to be a part of these historically overlooked communities so deeply embedded with ingenuity and strength that goes unrecognized.
Works
Terence Byas aka Dredske, Hausa Warrior, 2024
