An Inaugural Exhibition by Lex Marie

“Remember? Remember.” artist Lex Marie’s first solo exhibition consists of a series of 15 paintings and 2 art installations, in between two locations, exploring the idea that one can restore lost memories through the act of storytelling. She addresses the impact that the erasure of personal histories through gentrification, generational trauma and memory loss can have on oneself. The series consists of many childhood portraits of the artist, most with added collage elements ranging from progress reports to certificates of achievement to quarterly report cards rewarded to the artist during her time attending Kenmoor Elementary School, which has since closed. Many of the reference photos used to begin each painting were either glamour photos taken at the now demolished Landover Mall shopping mall where the artists mother was a professional photographer, or in the artists childhood apartment in Glenarden, MD which has since been demolished as well.

The stories behind many of the works stemmed from memories removed from the physical form, but were revisited by the artist through conversations, reflecting and research with hopes to restore and preserve her own history and the history of those around her.

VIP OPENING RECEPTION

507 8TH ST SE

2100 L ST NW @ THADDEUS STEVENS SCHOOL (IN PARTNERSHIP W/ AKRIDGE)

ARTIST BIO

Lex Marie’s (b. 1992: Prince George's County, MD) nostalgic portrait paintings are an unedited biography of her own life. Pulling from both her past and present experiences, she portrays emotions in her work surrounding topics such as systematic racism, single parenting and self- care. Lex’s portraits are unique in that through telling her story she captures the emotions that she has felt personally which also happens to be a similar story of many other people of colors that have long been unheard.

Influenced by classical portraiture, Lex emphasizes her subjects, often being herself or her son, by placing them front and center minimizing the initial impact of the smaller yet very important background details. The poses are soft yet stoic, the colors strong and vibrant, she captures a split second of a scene forcing ambiguity as to what that subject may currently be enduring a few moments before or after. She hints at answers to these questions in her provocative titles such as “At His Daddy House” or “We Only Get Dressed Up for Easter.”

Learn more about Lex Marie @ http://lexmarie.com