Liakesha Wayne Portrait 2013

Editor: So, here we have Felice House’s 2013 acrylic painting, "Liakesha Wayne Portrait." What I find most immediately striking is the way the traditional cowboy iconography—the hat and bandana— intersects with the sitter's direct gaze. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the painting speaks volumes about representation and identity politics within a historically white-dominated narrative like the American West. Consider the evolution of the cowboy image: It’s deeply ingrained in our cultural understanding of masculinity and independence, often excluding the contributions and experiences of people of color. House directly challenges this exclusion, doesn’t she? Editor: Absolutely. Placing a Black woman front and center disrupts that established imagery. The painting, I guess, prompts us to reconsider who gets to embody the 'cowboy' persona and what that represents. Curator: Precisely! The artist isn't just painting a portrait; she's making a statement about reclaiming a space and rewriting a history. Think about the context in which the artwork was created - the rise of social media activism that demands increased visibility and recognition of marginalized communities. In that context, who has access to particular public roles? Editor: I hadn't really thought about it that way, the wider context...so it's as if the artwork uses those popular Western cultural symbols in dialogue with race and gender in the contemporary moment. Curator: Exactly. Art institutions play a role here too. What does it mean for a museum to display this piece? How does it reframe our understanding of art historical canons? Editor: So, seeing the painting is about more than just aesthetic appreciation. It's an opportunity for the institution and the public to grapple with challenging social narratives. That is so interesting to think about! Thanks! Curator: Glad to share the idea. This work can act as a crucial entry point to larger conversations around diversity, equity, and historical revisionism within both the art world and the broader cultural landscape.