BFA 2020: Avie Banks

316802.jpg

Black and white image of an African American woman in her 20s. She looks down and her long hair falls forward, partially obscuring her face. She sweeps her hair away from her face with one hand so we can see her features. She wears a black shirt.

Avie Banks, 2020. Courtesy of the artist.

01_Home.jpg

Image of a south side Chicago street framed by identical apartment buildings on either side.

Avie Banks, Home [#1], 2019. Courtesy of the artist.

02_Home.jpg

Color photograph of the lower part of a woman's legs. She is an African American woman with thick calves and three large scars, two circular ones on her calves and one long deep scar on her ankle.

Avie Banks, Home [#2], 2019. Courtesy of the artist.

03_Home.jpg

Image of a south side Chicago apartment building with four stories. It is brick with white framed windows.

Avie Banks, Home [#3], 2019. Courtesy of the artist.

10_Home.jpg

Image of a bird tattoo on the shoulder blade of an African American woman. Only the back of the shoulder is visible in the image, not the face of the woman.

Avie Banks, Home [#10], 2019. Courtesy of the artist.

Avie Banks

University of Illinois

BFA Class of 2020

To celebrate graduating seniors in the School of Art + Design Class of 2020, Krannert Art Museum is sharing their work.

Avie Banks | Photography

Artist Statement

Home is a series of black and white photographs I’ve taken of the houses I’ve lived in previously. The series was originally made into a book. The photographs take place on the south side of Chicago and depict the emotions I felt while standing in front of each house.

The series begins with the first home I was born in, to the last house I’ve lived in. This series helped me heal from family issues that I don’t talk about. It can be challenging to confront and embrace the emotions of going back to places with so many memories. The photographs of my mother are a continuation of the series.

In the book, I discuss the strength I’ve watched my mom display throughout my life. Healing is an important aspect of this series, so it was important to confront the relationship she has with her body and how to embrace it. This work relates to the intersection of family violence and how vulnerability is a step towards healing.

KAM