‘Black + Brown Blues’’, Levis’ denim, (Gallery 7) Brooklyn Artist’s Exhibition @Brooklyn Museum

 
With origins associated initially with unpaid labor forces in America, denim is believed by Teri Gandy-Richardson, to be deeply relevant within the fabric of who we are today. This artist has expanded her abstract painting practice to use Levi’s denim as her primary medium. Engaging in a meditative practice and process to dissect, twist, tie, mold and adhere worn Levi’s denim scraps, Gandy-Richardson also uses acrylic paint to enhance the dimension while weaving history, and cultural weight into her abstract compositions.

Teri Gandy-Richardson was born in Austin, Minnesota to African-American parents who left their home town in Florida after college for opportunity, and to start their family. Still high school sweethearts, they have raised in their daughter a humanist, abstract artist, yoga teacher and cancer survivor. Based in Brooklyn, NY, Gandy-Richardson was most recently included in group exhibitions at MoCADA, the Textile Arts Center, Brooklyn, New York; The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York and the Jamaica Arts Center, Queens, New York. Internationally, she participated in DENIM— Stylish, Practical, Timeless Blue Fabric with A History, at the Spielzeug Welten Museum in Basel Switzerland. Originally an Architecture major at The Cooper Union, Teri changed her major to Painting, and earned her BFA from Cooper Union’s School of Art.

photo credit: Beau P. Dobrikov

“As an African America woman, I do create some work that is moderately political, though most simply celebrates people who work. Because denim is THE iconic, and common thread throughout the history of American labor and more, I 'paint' with denim in 2- and 3-dimensions. I’m moved by the essence, and the miracle that IS the tenacity that spurs people to push beyond struggle.

Considering records from slavery, fieldwork, factories, current day labor and cubicle farms, denim literally tells our work, (and play) stories while dressing our culture, our movements, rebellions and attitudes. Denim is all of us— and it is binding.”
— Teri Gandy-Richardson


**Featured in Article / Hyperallergic 2024

me in denim @teri.artwork Art CV, and Images.