My work exists at the intersection of futurism, realism, and Black identity. As a self-taught artist, I use portraiture to explore the multidimensionality of Black people—our divinity, our vulnerability, our evolution. I am drawn to faces: their geometry, their energy, their stories. Each face I paint becomes a portal—connecting past to future, emotion to imagination.

I use oil paint as a tool of reverence. The skin tones I build are layered, vibrant, and intentional, reflecting the richness and depth of the Black experience. Many of my portraits feature metallic elements, symbolic of royalty, technology, and transcendence. I often depict my subjects as androgynous or otherworldly—free from the confines of stereotype and rooted in both history and possibility.

Through my paintings, I aim to challenge narrow perceptions of Blackness and contribute to a broader, more radiant visual language. My goal is not just representation, but elevation—to present Black people as ethereal, empowered, and limitless.

— Brandon Deener