By Jacqueline Arroyo / The Jambar
Black History Month continues at Youngstown State University as the Judith Rae Solomon Gallery showcases Crystal Miller’s work on Afrofuturism.
Miller is a mixed-media artist who began creating at a young age. She holds an associate degree in graphic design and a bachelor’s degree in painting, sculpture and expanded media from the Cleveland Institute of Art.
She said most of her art is about creating a space where everyone can feel like themselves, which Miller conveys through the material and colors of her work.
“I look at a lot of Black fashion photography, I’ll look at fashion magazines — it’s kind of like what I get my inspiration for, like the subjects that I paint,” Miller said. “I will collage images together to create a new image that’s kind of like my reference photo.”
Once a reference photo is created, the process of starting the work varies. Miller said she skips around, painting or applying materials depending on her mood.
“The painting will try to speak to me in a weird way where it’ll kind of tell me like these are the kind of materials that I want to put on me,” Miller said.
Some of the materials Miller uses include gems to signify jewelry, such as rings or necklaces. For hair, she uses molding paste to create texture, adding depth for the viewer.
When asked why her work is so vibrant, Miller said that when she thinks about Black culture, celebration and Afrofuturism, she envisions bright colors.
Another reason her subjects appear vibrant is the undertones she uses on the skin, which she wants to amplify in her work.
Miller said she prefers vibrancy over representational color because Black skin comes in many different shades. She feels color allows for a richer portrayal and hopes that is what people take away when they see her work.
“I want them to hopefully appreciate black culture more, to appreciate Black women more, hopefully change perspectives on Afrofuturism,” Miller said.
The final step in completing her work is creating the frame. The approach and materials for the frame differ from the artwork itself.
“I will use a lot of materials that are really referential to my childhood. Like tulle and ribbon,” Miller said. “Ribbon is kind of symbolic for celebration and tulle is symbolic for when I was younger. My mom would put me in tutus and stuff,”
YSU reached out to Miller about her work and wanted to include it in its Black History Month celebrations, giving her the opportunity to connect with other students and people around her age.
Miller’s work will be on display from 8 a.m-5 p.m. Feb. 3-28. The exhibit is located in Bliss Hall and is free to students, faculty, staff and the public.