As a black woman artist from Maryland, Murjoni Merriweather has found that the best way to create and talk about black culture is through art, especially claywork. As a student from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Murjoni creates sculpted beings that are based around real people and real experiences. Her work addresses and eliminates stereotypes through clay portraits and video work. With this, she enjoys going against the European standards of “beauty” that are placed upon people of color. (light skin, petite figure,etc.), and normalizing what is natural about black bodies; loving and accepting them as they come.
Through the artwork, connections and reflections with herself and others based on shared experiences. Continuing her craft, she plans to continue eliminating stereotypes and prejudices while uplifting the black community.
Photo by Yana Mazurkevich
Artist Statement
For over 400 years, Black people have been treated as subhuman. We were introduced to the United States as property; after being captured, enslaved, and sold like animals or products in high demand. Hundreds of years later, we were “liberated”. However, the hopes of equality and freedom that accompanied liberation were only ideas. The quest for true freedom has been a constant fight. For generations we’ve fought for our most basic rights. Still, we find ourselves shoved into the margins of American society. We are still viewed as inferior.
We are force-fed the false concept of inferiority from every angle. The idea that we are lacking, and that we are ugly and unworthy has been etched into every aspect of our culture. It shows its face in the lack of access and representation to the same spaces as our non-black counterparts. This includes our work spaces, educational spaces, the media, and within the painful disparities that plague our systems. Even today, we are constantly singled out and judged because of the color of our skin, the texture of our hair, our choice of style, the way we grew
up, etc.
My work focuses on addressing and eliminating the negative stereotypes of blackness that still exist both inside and outside of the black community. From my perspective, this starts with erasing the European standards of beauty from blackness while also pushing and normalizing black culture. Our hair, our skin, or features are nothing to be ashamed of. It is also about showing appreciation for different aspects of our culture (ie: hair culture, grill culture, nail culture) and embracing them with confidence.
My pieces are created to take up space and to unapologetically give their own personalities as human beings. Each piece is named after someone black or named by someone who is black. Each piece has their own spirit and purpose, just like every human being. They stand tall and proud as a representation of an unforgettable and prominent culture. This gateway of creation uplifts the idea of self love, confidence and appreciation. My work is for black people. It is created to display our innate beauty and to encourage us to be proud of who we are.
