Michael Roman

My work seeks to add to the conversation that Kehinde Wiley and Kerry James Marshall have ignited by portraying Black men informed by Christian iconography, art historical references, and hip hop cultural influences.  While the beauty of Blackness and Marshall’s “ordinary grace” have been explored, the masculinization of Black beauty as a spiritual or religious ideal has not.  I am not seeking restitution for a historical slight, but rather recognition that concepts of universal beauty and divinity apply to Black men as well.My work seeks to showcase divine Black beauty for people who look like me and explore the idea that it is impossible to respect the differences in people if you can’t recognize the divinity of those who don’t look like you.    The Black male image is almost always seen as a tool for political or social propaganda even after (or perhaps due to) the various Black American freedom movements of the 50’s through the 80’s.  Conversely, I seek to present my work in a de-politicized fashion, understanding that the presence of the (contemporary) Black male image will automatically politicize it for the majority of viewers.  Subjects are presented with almost no signals as to wealth or station in life (i.e. clothing or skin tone) leaving the viewer to react to the figure’s body language and facial expressions.  The eyes are subtly obscured so that the viewer can see a person, but is unable to emotionally connect to THE person. Because the windows to soul of the figure are concealed, the viewer must rely on the Christian iconography and art history references to acknowledge the divinity of the figure before them.        

[mistermroman]

Title: Negus of the Well-Spoken Tokens #MaskOff ••• Proud of this one because it represented a number of challenges. First I hate doing #selfportraits I mean I don’t even like taking selfies. Second the idea of drawing a #BlackMan much less myself in #whiteface was just hard to look at. I had a moment just taking the source photos (📸: @matthewxinchan ) But, definitely feel like it was worth it. ••• Off to @glamfa2019 tomorrow afternoon ••• #art #artistsoninstagram #blackartist #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #goldleaf #mixedmedia #mixedmediadrawing #dopeblackart #supportblackart #supportblackartists #supportblackarts #hiphop #childishgambino #future #futurehendrix #lyrics #inspiration #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuTEAGlRFh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1trfhy01tqo69

[mistermroman]

Current #progress on my @glamfa2019 piece. #goldleaf starts today. Swipe for details on the show and it’s programs at #csulbart including open studios. • • • • #art #artistsoninstagram #blackart #blackartist #workinprogress #wip #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #latin #facepaint #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsqSGFalSo6/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zjn30e5tvea8

[mistermroman]

My monthly @originalsnation meeting doodle. Special thanks to @futurjuana for being my semi-suspecting muse for the evening. • • • #art #artistsoninstagram #supportblackart #blackartist #drawing #ink #sketch #sketchbook #moleskin #originals #nobrokefriends #livelovecreatecontent (at Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsd443llrQG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2no3o9ssahcu

[mistermroman]

I’m terrible at taking photos. Too busy enjoying the moment. Especially this moment of being a part of @prizmartfair for the first time. Check their page for a far better collection of the entire experience. Special thanks to @mikhailesolomon and @howtallareyou for including my work amongst some of the best in the business. #latergram #blackartist #supportblackart #art #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #livelovecreatecontent (at The Historic ALFRED I. DUPONT BUILDING) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrbHgc5lFjG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18vrsjugwkdqn

[mistermroman]

Special thanks to @tommyljohnson and @originalsnation for the shout out and cameo in the promo video. Coming to LA has been amazing and I appreciate the community of empowerment that Tommy and the Originals community has welcomed me into. Wouldn’t be the same without it. Much love and respect 👊🏾✊🏾✌🏾 https://www.instagram.com/p/BqqAubeluUn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1dsog1pczdxl0

[mistermroman]

Not sure if this still in #progress #finished or #done. Some issues with it that no one else will notice. I’ll sit with it for a few days and decide what to do with it later. (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpldRiuld9V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bxr6bd4fj9jf

[mistermroman]

Background for the next one.. • • • #art #artistsoninstagram #digitalprint #drawing #illustration #charcoaldrawing #charcoal #graphitedrawing #graphite #pastels #pencils #peterpaulrubens #supportblackart #supportblackartists #dopeblackart #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpaNa7JhNrB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kxrqto8ngdq9

[mistermroman]

Trying to get better with tonal drawing. Usually I just use charcoal/graphite so actually using a range of gray scale #pastel #pencils is really different. I’m pleased with this first attempt. Still working on a title. #swipe for #progress #progresspics • • • #art #artistsoninstagram #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #pasteldrawing #illustration #digitalart #digitalprint #supportblackart #supportblackartists #dopeblackart #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpZmi8SFAb-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1i4yh6q87frhk

[mistermroman]

Something from last week that was supposed to be an experiment about speed and looseness. Clearly did not succeed. Still, decent drawing of the old homie @leillucha Hoping all is well with my @ahealingparadigm people too!! #art #artistsoninstagram #drawing #illustration #graphite #graphitedrawing #experiment #failedexperiment #failure #failureisnotanoption #learn #grow #repeat #supportblackart #dopeblackart #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoHH_mRlcqQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18tyul0kfjq73

[mistermroman]

Title: I Put That On My Set #OnlyTrillNegusIKnow Final version for now. Doing this has inspired a few ideas, so now I have some experiments to do... #art #artistsoninstagram #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #illustration #graphite #graphitedrawing #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnv_4hLjVo2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bheirq22uygi

[mistermroman]

Finally coming back to this piece. #progress #workinprogress #wip Swipe to see the clean background and the first version from a previous post. Still working out some material/technical issues. #art #drawing #illustration #digital #print #digitalprint #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #halftone #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnnLsvqjUd7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1b5e345q4n5ep

[mistermroman]

Title: Negus of Lookouts and Last Ones Left #RealNegusMyRadius Finally finished this after an extra long day. #goldleaf took a lot longer than I expected. As always.. on to the next one. #art #artistsoninstagram #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #supportblackart #dopeblackart #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnMECL1D_T8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xm1jc7dpnz43

[mistermroman]

#latergram of more #progress #charcoal work is done. I’ve already started the #goldleaf but forgot to post this stage. Finished piece tonight. #art #artistsoninstagram #drawing #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #wip #workinprogress #illustration #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnJnRwxjBXJ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ami5zjsjygf3

[mistermroman]

Current #progress. #art #artistsoninstagram #illustration #drawing #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #workinprogress #wip #csun #csunorthridge #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm59RaQDmvP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1t94e07ckgz9m

[mistermroman]

#Sketch for the current #workinprogress #wip I’m a couple days into the piece so I’ll post #progress tonight. #art #illustration #drawing #sketchbook #graphite #graphitedrawing #artistsoninstagram #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm08-HDDKj4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jdmw5nbz9ctm

[mistermroman]

Background for the next piece. Don’t worry, this will make sense when its finished. Promise. Unless it doesn’t. Then I can’t help you. ••••• Updates coming soon ••••• #art #illustration #drawing #digital #digitalart #livelovecreatecontent (at CSUN Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, & Communication)

[mistermroman]

Think I’ll call this done.. (Working) title: “Who Shot Ya” #HandDownManDown •••• Just kidding, it doesn’t matter if your hands are up or not. Not sure on the hashtag because it DOESN’T matter, you’ll get shot either way cuz you can’t put down the real “weapon.” Any suggestions? •••• #art #drawing #illustration #charcoal #charcoaldrawing #mixedmedia #mixedmediadrawing #graphite #graphitedrawing #hiphop #whoshotya #notoriousbig #biggie #biggiesmalls #biggiesmallsistheillest (at CSUN Art & Design Center)