Pamela Lawton

Artist Statement

My artwork, primarily prints, artist’s books, and mixed media pieces is grounded in social liberation and Black joy; visualizing the connection between historical and contemporary issues, cultural traditions, and the stories of people impacted by them. I take inspiration from my family history, intergenerational learning experiences, mentors like my artist-educators, and influential Black artists.

I often combine text and image in my work and have coined the term 'artstories,' to describe an individual's or group's quest for identity and meaning through story sharing and art making.

As an African American artist-educator, I merge archival research with artistic expression to reinterpret, document, preserve, activate, and comment on the historical narratives of Black people; creating a visual archive that engages the public with history and makes vital connections between historical and contemporary life. Documents, artifacts, and photographs from family and institutional archives are reimagined as prints, artists books, and assemblages transporting the viewer into the lived experiences of African Americans; opening a portal where themes of human experience transcend race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, and time period.

Wood is the material I most enjoy working with as I feel a connection between my practice as a printmaker and the artistic traditions of family members, like my great-grandfather, a very skilled woodworker. Printmaking is a practice that comprises both traditional and innovative materials and processes, making it an ever-evolving medium that continues to develop; allowing me to build and grow my skills as an artist.