The Oklahoma Eagle Newswire
The Covid-19 pandemic stirred many new aspirations in people, particularly in artists, who are now using new mediums to inspire change and celebrate some of the world’s leading changemakers.
Trueson Daugherty found within himself a mission to create fine art in the likeness of Black American leaders as a way to make a difference in his community. Making original fine art more accessible to all people was just a start. Daugherty added a layer to his effort, to redirect portions of profits from his fine art to support organizations that provide resources to underserved Black communities.
“I want to make a difference in our communities, and art seemed like a simple way to do that,” Daugherty said.
With the opening of his solo exhibit at The Greenwood Gallery, 10 N. Greenwood Ave., Daugherty will show and sell his recent collection of fine art, with portraits of change leaders including MLK Jr., Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Angela Davis and more.
The exhibit will open on the Greenwood Arts District’s First Friday to run from Sept. 3rd through Oct. 17th. Gallery admission is free. Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A biracial Black American artist, Daugherty has been creating art all his life in a variety of mediums. In the beginning of 2020, he began painting portraiture, a decision that came from a desire to create art that wouldn’t require a familiarity of contemporary art for it to be understood or appreciated. He chose as his subjects iconic Black American civil rights leaders, painted in a colorful pop impressionist style. His stated goal with these portraits is to give working class Black Americans access to original art that focuses on Black history as a source of inspiration and pride.
Born in Virginia, Daugherty became the first member of his family to graduate from college, earning a degree in graphic design from Tidewater Community College. He moved to Tulsa in 2011 and worked as a graphic designer creating brands and websites for business in Tulsa, including the logo for The Black Wall Street Times before leaving Tulsa in 2018 for a job in Arkansas.
