We Would Rather Move Through Our Lives like the Flow of Water

Wood
23 x 35 x 4 in
Autumn T. Thomas

"We Would Rather Move Through Our Lives like the Flow of Water" is a manifestation of my fascination with parametric design and its capacity to imbue wood with the fluidity of water. Guided by a personal philosophy that urges us to transcend two-dimensional perspectives especially when it comes to the perception of Black individuals. This artwork symbolizes the desire for a more fluid existence, akin to the graceful flow of water, rather than rigid structures. Through this piece, I seek to challenge our visual literacy, inviting viewers to explore a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the world and its inhabitants.

Collections: Submission to Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library, Tya Anthony - Science-Informed Art Practice

Other Work From Autumn T. Thomas

In the Melody of Its Own Becoming by Autumn T. Thomas

Virtue is Near Thee, and With Gentle Hand by Autumn T. Thomas

Contemporary Chi Wara III by Autumn T. Thomas

Contemporary Chi Wara 1 (work in progress) by Autumn T. Thomas

Forest for the Trees by Autumn T. Thomas

The Power of Rejuvenation by Autumn T. Thomas

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Artist biography

Autumn T. Thomas (b. 1978) creates wood sculptures that challenge the boundaries of visual literacy: hundreds of cuts placed into the wood transforms it into soft, twisting forms, mimicking the endurance required to thrive amidst the oppression and marginalization of women of color; each cut represents a time in which Thomas felt cut down by society. Minimal in design,

Thomas' work personifies analogous, brown bodies as whispering forms of subversion, affecting prejudice by way of perception and visual literacy.

Thomas is a current artist in residence at Redline Contemporary Art Center in Denver, CO where she lives and works. She is sponsored by Diaspora Vibe Cultural Arts Incubator and National Performance Network. She received her MFA in Book Arts and Printmaking from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia in 2017 and her BFA in Visual Communication from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2015.