Eyes Closed Under Stars: Black Queer Artists Rewrite the Rules of Being Seen

A quiet revolution is unfolding in the world of figurative art, led by Black queer and trans artists who are redefining what it means to be visible. Instead of offering up their identities for easy consumption, these artists carve out space for complexity and care. Jonathan Lyndon Chase’s dreamy canvases and installations center Black queer intimacy, inviting viewers into moments of mutual recognition that resist the flattening gaze of mainstream culture. Qualeasha Wood’s beaded tapestries, woven from digital self-portraits, challenge who gets to look and who gets to know, hiding layers beneath the surface and refusing to be fully revealed. Paul Mpagi Sepuya’s fragmented photographs and mirror tricks disrupt the viewer’s access, shifting the power of perspective. Shikeith’s kaleidoscopic portraits and installations multiply the self, honoring the fluidity and vulnerability of queer connection. Together, these artists transform figurative art into a sanctuary—where seeing and being seen is an act of protection, not exposure, and where the fullness of Black queer life can thrive beyond the limits of expectation. #BlackQueerArt #FigurativeArt #ContemporaryArtists #Culture