office x Human By Orientation: Kezia Harrell

Lead photo courtesy of HBO Max

For this collaboration, we came together and asked our three artists to investigate the idea of “identity” and “self-reflection," through words as well as their respective medium. Our third and final artist in the series is painter, illustrator, sculptor, and comic book author Kezia Harrell.

Using a playful palate, Kezia Harrell’s multi-disciplinary pieces present powerful reappropriations of the narratives of Black Americans across history and popular culture. Incorporating surrealism and fantasy in each piece through space and forms, Kezia’s work builds worlds for the Black identity that sit outside of the heavy traumas of the past, safe from the perpetuation of the white perspective.

In many pieces, the artist uses self-portraiture to explore these topics, whether literally or by way of imagery nostalgic to her personal experiences growing up. Technically inspired, thematically and politically thought-provoking, and personally moving, Kezia’s work carries significant weight, and we were honored to have her take on self-reflection and identity as a part of this series.

• Photos courtesy of HBO Max

How do you define “identity”? What would you say are the most important aspects of your identity?

Lately I define identity as the one true thing we own. It’s what situates us in our lives and leads us through it. The most important aspect of my identity is my memory. I remember all of my selves, from my earliest memory to right now. When I remember, I see myself as infinite.

How do you feel that you present and express yourself differently digitally, versus in person, versus in your work?

I’ve been an internet user since I was 5. I’m basically a cyborg, as I’ve never not had access to the world wide web. My mother made it that way. We had a big ass Macintosh. I mean it was thick. And it had this game where you could create digital portraits, there were hundreds of facial features built into the program to choose from. I made all kinds of people; green hair, purple hair, big lips, big nose, itty bitty eyes, giant ears, you name it. My mom always says, “Cyberspace is a real place.” And it really is. Today we see it from an even more surreal light as we carry cyberspace in our hands, we rely on it to actually communicate. It’s shifted how we relate to ourselves and an even bigger world than we thought. I’m a storyteller and every storyteller loves an audience, so I love how I can mold my own story online. I love it’s broadness. 

Upon self-reflecting, where are you able to see personal growth since you first began your creative journey? What are you most proud of? 

Picasso has a quote that I’ve been quoting since my sophomore AP Art class, it goes “Every child is an artist. The problem is to remain an artist once they grow up.” My creative journey began when I was about 4-years old and it has evolved with me as I’ve aged. All of my phases as an artist are valid. The one I feel the most proud of is my middle-school to high-school self. That was when I started branching out and exploring concepts and art history. When I was in high-school I started to actually get comfortable with my reflection. The first piece I made was a color pencil drawing of women in my family. It was my first time using color pencils for a portrait. I was surprised at my ability to render color and depth, and so were my teachers. I was the talk of the art department. I’ve always been complimented on my work but in high-school that’s when the “serious artist” title came along. I felt responsible to actually speak. I used to make what I called “line language.” And It was basically graphic abstracted lines that, if you looked at them for long enough – you’d start to see a bunch of happenings. Paired with line-language would be drawings of luminously Black skinned humanoids.

I was invited to enter a competition held by a local shoe store. They gave us all boots to design in our own original way. I worked very hard on my book. I painted on my line language and my humanoids. My mother and brother Chaim helped me build the electronics so that it could blast music and also spin around slowly. I sculpted these black polymer spikes that shot out of it and everything. It was so dope. But I lost the competition to a dude who made a Mario Bros. themed shoe. I spent weeks pissed about that. It kind of shattered me at the time but I didn’t stop creating. I remember thinking to myself “This is why I don’t do competitions anyway.” I have all of my old work, except the shoe. I just let it get knocked around in my bedroom until I eventually threw it away. 

Photo courtesy of HBO Max

With increased alone time, what keeps you feeling connected during quarantine?

I have a very close knit circle in my life. While I’m always alone with my art, I can leave my studio and be greeted with the beautiful faces of the ones I love. I keep my loved ones close, I’m very social and I have a natural habit of keeping in touch with friends & family, near or far. Sunday mornings I go on early morning leisurely strolls and to find something new to paint on my iPad. I’m very sensorial; I feel just about everything so I often escape to nature. It refills me when I’ve spent my energy. Although I am a loner in a sense, I still feel longing of connection. At least before if I wanted to be barricaded to my home, it was a choice. I’m a world roamer, I like to bounce around the globe. I really wanted that for my 2020 but the year showed me how to really be gratuitous and sit the fuck down sometimes. [In 2020] I learned that the little things are what makes the world go round. We are the little things, and I miss us. I hold on tighter during hugs this year. I’ve made the most amount of art this year than I ever have before and it’s subsequent to my earlier depression. They always say it must rain for the sun to shine. Or something like that?

What might be your mission statement—as applied to your work, and also to you as a human, today?

I want to make as much work as my two hands can produce. I’ve seen a lot in my 27 years and I want to share my visions. Ultimately I just want to be an adorable old grandma one day with silver locks that sways past my ankles when I walk. I try to make decisions that she/they would make.

You’ve spoken to the fact that self-love has been an important element and inspiration in your work as well as your lifestyle. How do you actively practice this day-to-day?

Sometimes I don’t practice self-love every day. Self-love seems [so] ritualistic—though technically I probably practice it every day... I [just] try to acknowledge the ways I love on myself, people, and things in my world. For instance, I love laughing. One of the ways I give myself space for self-love is by emitting laughter.

Human by Orientation’s ethos is to celebrate your fullest self. How have you learned and grown as an artist through your journey of embracing your full self?

I learned that I am the perfect subject. I used to feel guilty about telling my story until I seen its inevitability. I’ve been doing the right things all along.