Derrick Bell is a local Bay Area painter and furniture maker whose work explores themes of storytelling, Blackness, and social experience. Originally born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Bell’s studio is located in Oakland, California. He holds a BA in Studio Art from Morehouse College and an MA in Art Education from Mount St. Joseph University. Bell’s work has been exhibited across the US and in South Africa.

Though an acrylic painting, Mindrise conjures the feeling of standing before a stained-glass window, with its mosaic of luminous colors and shapes. This effect is achieved through layers of glazed color applied using an additive and subtractive technique. The gold leaf of the crown shimmers triumphantly as it draws the eye upward, lending the piece a spiritual tone.