Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaire McPhearson.
Zaire, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always been into the arts since a very young age. My parents often tell me stories of how I always had a crayon in my hand spending hours creating mini masterpieces to hang around the house. I attended an art school from 2nd-12th grade, which gave me a strong foundation in creating and understanding the fundamentals of creating artwork and technical skills.
Since a child, I have always considered myself an artist. I have vivid memories of myself telling people that I was an artist at an early age. Being able to be expressive in many ways as a child has helped me to take that same creativity and continue to create.
I grew up in a cultured household where art and music were present everywhere. Whether I was looking at paintings created by African American artists, African masks, or listening to the soulful sounds of Miss Anita Baker art and music were all around me. I have always been captivated by music and art and knew that was something I wanted to pursue. Attending a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), the illustrious South Carolina State University has been one the most transformative experiences, if not the most. It was the experiences that I created at SC State that became the backbone of my work. Attending SC State further proved that Blackness is not a monolith but there is vastness in who we are.
After graduating from SC State University, I attended graduate school at Duke University pursuing an M.F.A in Experimental and Documentary Arts. While in graduate school, I crafted a thesis titled A Fall From Grace, telling the stories of my family’s traumatic experiences in a twisted cult. My thesis takes a different approach to cults, focusing on the spiritual aspects that were still present within my family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
On paper, I have succeeded and won accolades and awards but when it all boils down to who we are behind the paper may look a little different. I have always been extremely quiet and shy, it took me years to open up and publicly speak let alone explain my artwork. It was in graduate school that I was forced to get out of my shell and articulate myself. We spent an hour getting critiqued and talking about our artwork. This truly helped me with being confident in speaking about my artwork as well as taking constructive criticism. Being an artist requires a lot that most people don’t talk about. There are long nights, months of creative roadblocks, and the distractions of life. All of these things combined together can make you feel as though you are losing it as an artist. I sometimes struggle with imposter syndrome and not feeling my work is adequate enough to be in the room. But despite all of the struggles I have encountered and will encounter I’m truly thankful to be able to create artwork that has inspired many people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a multimedia contemporary artist. Growing up in church sparked my interest in the exploration of African American entities through religion and faith. A lot of my work touches on the divine spiritual being and challenges the narrative of traditional biblical figures. As a Black woman, I feel responsible for ensuring that my work shifts the narrative away from the mythology of a predominately white art historical canon and instead celebrates the existence of Black bodies and Black stories. This is the work that I have always felt motivated to create.
My portfolio is a love letter to Black womanhood and centers on the Black body using sculptural work, digital manipulation, photography, and the use of materials according to whatever the work needs. The majority of my sculptures predominantly consist of paint, resin, plaster, wood, and whatever else the work needs. My work has themes of religion, race, and femininity. It is important that the themes present in my work are ensuring that my work moves beyond the traditions of predominantly white art historical narratives and instead celebrates Black history. Another theme in my work is exploring the vastness of Blackness in every way. Growing up in the Black Church sparked my interest in exploring Black women and their relationships in the church, including their roles and how they are the backbone of many movements. Most of my work consists of figurative representations of Black bodies using multiple mediums and bright colors.
I am most proud of creating artwork that gives Black women a platform to be authentically themselves. This is the work that I have been passionate about and inspires me to keep going. The main thing that sets me apart from others is my ability to tell well-crafted stories through the use of multiple mediums.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I remember growing up in Charlotte NC spending many days at church or my grandmother’s house. I honestly really enjoyed being a kid and believe I had a wonderful childhood. I often sit and think to myself where did the time go? Sometimes I’m amazed at how clearly and vividly I remember my childhood. For example, I remember being at my grandmother’s daycare which was downstairs and avoiding nap time at all costs. We would try to whisper to each other, but we got caught every time until we eventually fell asleep to the noise of the Young and the Restless. Or how I was so shy I would cry if I had to sing in the choir. My aunt would have to stand next to me in the choir in addition to seeing my mom in the audience for me to sing in the choir. I grew up in a one-story house that consisted of myself, my mother, my father, my brother, my god sister, and later my younger sister. Growing up, I was very quiet and shy and only talked to a select few family members and friends. I always found comfort in art and reading and spend most of my time doing that. I had dreams of becoming an artist when I was younger, I would draw out what my exhibitions would look like and keep them in my notebook. Overall, I had an amazing childhood with parents and family that were supportive and helped nourish my craft.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zairemcphearson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zairemcphearson/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe6TLgYJcIM&t=24s
