American Fiction: Clarence Heyward

Where do the narratives we embrace, the myths we create, and the truths of our reality converge? In “American Fiction,” the lines between history, imagination, and reality blur. The exhibition unfolds as a cinematic journey, one steeped in the residue of collective memory and personal experience. The works function as fragmented chapters, each a potent vignette that captures the tension between enduring structures and the urgency of transformation as we reconsider what it means to be Black in America today. The vision behind Clarence Heyward’s paintings is both raw and poetic, calling us to reflect on the weight of the past and the possibilities of an emancipatory future. Here, fiction does not obscure the truth; it amplifies it.

“American Fiction” serves as a dual-edged frame: a disclaimer and an invitation. It disarms the viewer, signaling that what lies within is not confined to a singular narrative but is layered with symbolism, contradictions, and counterpoints. At its core, the exhibition probes the fictions embedded in the American consciousness, whether they be stories that glorify power, mask inequity, and dictate whose voices are heard. Yet, Heyward reclaims the idea of fiction as a radical tool, rewriting dominant narratives of Black America through the lens of lived experience.

Heyward’s work epitomizes the ability to encapsulate generations of struggle, resilience, and reflection. Each painting emerges at the intersection of personal history and collective identity, blending figurative representation with layered symbolism. His practice incorporates techniques like collage, large-scale painting, and nuanced interplay between texture and color. Through his depictions of domesticity, protest, and memory, Heyward employs his signature “uniform”—a camouflage representing the ongoing war on Black bodies in America. His compositions navigate the delicate balance between homage and critique, grounding viewers in a visual language that is deeply resonant and universally compelling.

The works in "American Fiction" tether the personal to the political, illustrating Heyward’s exploration of home, heritage, and resistance. His inclusion of autobiographical elements grounds the exhibition in his lived reality while transcending it. Through the repetition of shoes, camouflage, and flags, Heyward threads a narrative about what it means to be bound: to a place, a history, a body, a nation. These symbols evoke a lineage of protest and survival, inviting viewers to reimagine patriotism, justice,

and collective agency. Ultimately, his work serves as both a confrontation of and a testament to America’s fraught legacy.

“American Fiction” challenges viewers to confront the constructed nature of identity, history, and belonging. It asks, “Who writes our story, and whose voices remain unheard?” Heyward’s work creates a space where grief and celebration, anger, and hope collide. From the intimate to the monumental, viewers can envision new possibilities for unity, understanding, and resistance. We must reckon with the past while daring to imagine a future where the fictional constructs of division give way to a shared narrative of equity and liberation.