My Practice

Julian Joseph Kyle

 (b. 1982, Stuttgart, Germany; lives and works in Brooklyn, New York) 

​​

My practice interrogates the complex interstices of identity, history, and cultural memory, centering the African American experience within a contemporary visual discourse. Through a multidisciplinary approach encompassing digital illustration, painting, and mixed media, I endeavor to deconstruct and re-contextualize the narratives that have historically marginalized Black identity.

 

In my work, I am compelled by the archival remnants of the past—fragments of history that persist in the collective consciousness yet remain under-explored. By appropriating and reimagining these cultural signifiers, I aim to disrupt traditional historiographies and propose alternative readings that celebrate the resilience and multiplicity of Black cultural identity. My compositions often juxtapose figurative elements with abstract forms, creating a dynamic tension that invites the viewer to engage with the layered complexities of race, memory, and representation.

 

The materiality of my work is as integral to its meaning as the imagery itself. I often employ a tactile, process-oriented approach, where the physicality of the medium—whether through the fluidity of watercolor, the precision of digital techniques, or the textural depth of mixed media—becomes a conduit for exploring themes of fragmentation, erasure, and reclamation.

 

At the core of my practice is an exploration of narrative—how stories are told, who gets to tell them, and the power dynamics inherent in these acts of storytelling. By reclaiming and reframing these narratives, I seek to provoke critical discourse and inspire a more nuanced understanding of the Black experience. My work is an invitation to contemplate the intersections of past and present, the personal and the political, and to consider the ways in which art can serve as both a mirror and a catalyst for social change.