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When I first saw Twins, a painting by African American contemporary artist Jordan Casteel, I was immediately transported back to the hours I spent as a child riding the train with my mother in New York City. We would frequently take the dingy subway for a 45-minute ride all the way to Brooklyn to see my uncle in Flatbush. The journey seemed to last an eternity. What saved me was waiting for that moment shortly after crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to see what fresh graffiti tag might appear in a long stretch of the tunnel.

Twins displays two weary siblings napping on their mother's lap after a hard day at school. Despite the crop of the painting, I knew they were on a New York City subway car based on how they were leaning in and the trademark orange chairs. Again, because I, too, had been that kid.

Casteel captures an intimate moment in what could otherwise be a chaotic busy situation. This, in my opinion, is the brilliance of her Subway series.

Subway Series

The subway series really resonates with me as the paintings bring me a sense of nostalgia.  I have lived abroad for almost 20 years and when I look at these paintings the artist brings me right to those moments.

Casteel’s process consists first of taking a picture of her subject then paints them. Using photography (where lighting is sometimes bad as she admits) only to remember.

Her cropped style in this series, she says are a curiosity of form and light – junctures and the points of contact. A play on what we want to see and what we actually see drawing the viewer into the intimacy with the subject.

She captures the essence of the person held within the frame of their outline and social landscape. An expression of her experience of the environment and the light of her time with the subject. These works are so fresh, unique and vibrant. Her use of color is astonishing, expertly playing with light, fabric folds creating warmth in a flat generic subway car. Capturing this juxtaposition is fascinating and I think this is what makes these painting so profound.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

The native of Denver, Colorado, began her studies in sociology and anthropology before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Printmaking from Yale University. Her solo exhibitions have largely taken place in New York, where she currently lives and works, and she recently exhibited a collection of portraits, still lifes, and landscapes at the Massimo De Carlo gallery in London.

American Vogue invited her to create the artwork for the coveted "September Issue" in 2020. Joining an exclusive group of just a few artists in doing so.

According to Casteel, her work comprises of social landscapes that amplify voices of people. She is passionate about social justice and community engagement, and she strives to be involved in the world through her work.

“This is the way that I speak to the world. And this is the way I’ve been speaking to the world and talking about the humanity of our people, talking about humanity in general. It’s a really profound experience. I do think I’m participating and a change is happening.”

In my opinion, Casteel is an important voice for this generation of black American artists. Her art speaks to me, to my experience, to my people, to our challenges and to our hope.

WHERE TO FIND THE ARTIST

Find out more about - WWW.JORDANCASTEEL.COM

Follow on Instagram: @jordanmcasteel

See Jordan Casteel’s Vogue cover: VOGUE MAGAZINE

Tell us what you think of Jordan Casteel’s subway series. Or tell us about an artist you love. Share in the comments!

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