Red Velvet Girl [prints]

18 Numbered and Signed Prints available. High quality, coated paper; 16 x 12in.

"Created back in June of 2020 during a time of protest and social-political unrest, Red Velvet Girl is my own soft protest of what I feel is the adultification of black children. Upon viewing this piece, you will notice a few things about its subject, a giant slice of red velvet cake, big floppy bows and a bright yellow dress littered with tiny and messily painted flowers, each element recognizing the playfulness of youth. Growing up in an unstable environment I often had experiences that thrusted me into growing up quickly. Realizing the difficulties of womanhood from the age of 11, from being viewed as “fast” due to physically developing, noticing the glances of adult men and being able to feel the assumptions though their gaze. Sometimes the idea of “growing up too fast” is experienced though life’s circumstances and instability. I was really thinking about how wonderful it is to be in the fun, child-like space and how precious and short of a time we remain there especially as black children facing various odds. This child-like space is a place I often visit to create my work, I don’t over think about perfection or outcomes rather I enjoy the process of creating what I see in the world around me. I wanted to use fun and bold colors to communicate the attitude of the subject and depict her holding on to something sweet, the glow around the left eye symbolizing the soul which is very common in my work during that time. My message with this piece is that it's important to preserve the innocence and joy of youth. " ~ Codi Maddox, artist