Opening Reception, Lavett Ballard: The People Who Could Fly

Artist Statement This body of work is inspired by cherished Storytime moments with my granddaughter, particularly our shared love for The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton. This powerful tale, rooted in an African American folktale, has also influenced one of my favorite authors, Toni Morrison, in Song of Solomon. These works serve as the foundation for my exploration of resilience, hope, and freedom throughout African American history.The Visual narrative I seek to convey traces a journey from Africa, through the harrowing Middle Passage, to enslavement, and ultimately to liberation and resilience. My goal is to guide viewers through this story, forging connections between the past and the present.To bring this vision to life, I am creating art that intertwines folktale, history, and culture, incorporating reclaimed wood fencing and wooden substrates to craft wall-hung pieces and sculptural works. My techniques will include mixed-media approaches and immersive installations designed to engage viewers in a dynamic interpretation of this bittersweet folktale—extending its meaning beyond enslavement to celebrate resilience and identity by blending both the past and the present day.Through this exhibition, I hope to honor the enduring spirit of the African American experience and inspire reflection on the collective journey from oppression to empowerment. Lavett Ballard is a Mixed Media Visual Artist, Art historian, Curator, and Author. She holds a dual Bachelor’s in Studio Art and Art History with a minor in Museum Studies from Rutgers University, and an MFA in Studio Art from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.Ballard’s art has been commissioned as a cover twice for Time Magazine first in March 2020 for their special multi-cover edition for the 100th anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and in February 2023 for a cover and interior art for Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson’s essay about her book CASTE: Origins of our Discontent. In 2024 her art was featured in the NAACP Image Award winning Non-Fiction book The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families by Karida L. Brown & Charly Palmer.Her work has been included in both literary & film productions and collected both nationally and internationally. Acquisitions include the Petrucci Family Foundation, Abena Busia the Ghanian Ambassador to Brazil’s private Collection, Grant & Tamia Hill collection, the Francis M. Maguire Museum, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, the U.S. Art in the Embassies, St Joseph’s University, Syracuse Universities- Community Folk Arts Center, & Jule Collins Smith Fine Art Museum at Auburn University Collections among many others.Ballards portfolio can be viewed via [hidden] More Info below.