I Carry Us

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Darius Steward is particularly recognized for his paintings that investigate identity, race and placement, drawing from his own life experiences as an African American man. He typically portrays his young son or other members of his family in reflective moments, situated in the foreground against an open field of white paper. This blank scenery eliminates specific geographical references, opening the possibility for his figures to resonate universally. The empty space invites viewers to add to the work, and references a line in a 1928 essay by Zora Neale Hurston: “I feel the most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.” In 'I Carry Us', from his recent Baggage Claim series, Steward uses luggage as a metaphor for the emotional and historical baggage that he, and now his son, has inherited. 'I Carry Us' is a sensitive portrayal of the artist’s son, beautifully crafted, on a small scale and within an austere, weighty composition. These characteristics are typical of Steward’s best work.