Artist Feature: Devynity Wray
Boundless Visual Artist and Writer
We had the opportunity to talk to visual & performing artist Devynity Wray, whose work we discovered recently at the Art4Equality x Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness exhibit at the Untitled Space in Tribeca.
Q: I like to start at the beginning, so I would love to hear more about where you're from, and how/when you first discovered art?
I’m from Jamaica, Queens, NY where I currently reside. I come from a long line of New Yorkers. I’ve been making marks since I could hold a crayon, but I’ll say I started taking it seriously in middle school.
Q: Your artwork is incredibly inspirational and powerful. On your website, you say that your art is "informed by the historic invisibility of Black people in American contemporary spaces." Can you talk more about this and how it shows up in your work?
Thank you!!! So for me, it’s about representation really mattering. As a young Black girl, I’d go to museums with my dad often – that’s our thing. On a weekend, we make a day of it. Black artists and faces have always been few and far between in these very white spaces. I sometimes ask myself how masochistic is it for me to be passionate about wanting to see myself in institutions that deliberately alleviate an entire people from the historical landscape? We literally aren’t there. Now we are just beginning to see some equity in visibility on walls, as patrons and as curators in consideration of our work and stories. I want very much to be a part of that – the telling and the showing because that’s what I’ve always wanted to see. It’s also in the how. How am I seen? Not as an exoticized mechanism or in exploitation of my tragedy, but as I really am in all of my permutations. I’m striving for my work to reflect my story, my heritage and, also, I just want to make things that will mean something to its consumers. My art is my homecooked meal.
Q: Is there a specific piece that you are the most proud of creating? And if so, why?
Well right now I’m making my first series. I’m super excited about it. I’m working on portraits of the women I deem to be my patron saints. I was raised Catholic, and before the sacrament of Confirmation you have to choose a saint that you’re going to model you’re Catholic life after, you know, follow in their steps. Although I’m not presently what I’d call a woman of devout faith, I’ll say this part in the ritual really resonated with me – I practice it in this way - looking to women in my history like Zora Neale Hurston, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Madam CJ Walker as guides. The portraits I’m making are of them. I’m adorning them in collage. It’s messy and time-consuming and tiresome and I’m absolutely thrilled about it. I hope I am doing them justice.
Q: You're both a visual artist and a writer -- do you find that you are drawn more to one art form over the other?
I’ve been making art for four years. I went to LaGuardia High School and majored in art but I pretty much abandoned it after that until recently. I think I was under the impression all that time that I couldn’t make art and write at the same time and had to choose. So I really honed in on writing as a poet and rapper for many years. Now, I find that making space for them both in my practice is doable and I don’t feel suppressed creatively – I’m boundless! And that’s great. I’m really into art making right now and I’m also in school for art so the impetus is always there. I try to post a poem to my Instagram once a day. I think it’s important to exercise all the muscles so they don’t atrophy. I think of the forms as just different mediums for expression.
Q: Additionally, how does your creative process vary depending on the type of art you're creating?
I work on 5 or 6 pieces at a time to keep from getting bored. Once I’m bored, I don’t care anymore. Or something might happen in the world that inspires me to attack a blank canvas and I feel called in a way to start that new thing immediately. So I would say my process is very frantic, haha. I’m not good at sitting still in one space for too long.
Q: What do you love most about being an artist and what is the most challenging component of being in this profession?
Well the poverty is the most challenging part! Haha. Many artists grapple with how to monetize the work we do. We are often undervalued. The art world isn’t really structured to ensure the livelihoods of art makers which is wild because without us, there would be no art. I love being among other creatives that have some fascinating thing to offer the world. It’s like okay, what did you bring to the pot luck? I also love that I can have a thought, execute my interpretation of it for folks to consider and have it be understood – or not.
Q: Who or what inspires you the most?
Right now I’d say the possibility of a less tumultuous time. I feel as if quarantine is a chrysalis. A rebirth is near for all of us. I’m inspired by that.
Q: Can you tell us about any projects you're currently working on, or ideas you have for the future?
I’ve just relaunched my website www.devynity.com so folks can check out what I’ve been making recently. I’m working on my first book of poetry which I aim to release in 2021. I’m working on my series and I’ll be graduating soon from Lesley University with an MFA in Visual Art in the new year as well. I’ve got a few things on the horizon. I’m busy! Haha.
You can also check out more of her work here!