Simone Agoussoye’s solo exhibit “I Know You See Me” is presented by the ArtReach GW at THEARC, Washington DC
DC-based portrait artist Simone Agoussoye presents a polarizing and thought provoking presentation, epitomizing the multidimensional beauty of those who society often deems invisible.
- Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV (1888PressRelease) October 07, 2021 - In a stunning exhibition entitled I Know You See Me, DC-based fine artist Simone Agoussoye will display her first full solo presentation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by George Washington’s ARTREACH, the showing is scheduled to take place October 6 - November 26, 2021. The opening reception of the exhibition is scheduled to take place on Friday, October 15th from 5pm to 8pm ET. This body of work is a thought provoking commentary on beauty and also the visibility of those whom the world often wants to be invisible.
Exhibition Dates: October 6 - November 26, 2021
Artist Talk & Reception: Friday, October 15th 5-8pm
THEARC: Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus
1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020
I Know You See Me is about seeing and living life as a black woman which sometimes is difficult to understand and hard to explain. Through my paintings, I am exposing the identities of black women of all ages and all backgrounds and exploring how the media often depicts them, while also providing a new perspective by shining a light on their beauty and strength. With the use of acrylic and oil paints, I paint black women on black backgrounds - almost invisible - hoping to grab a few extra minutes from the viewer to look beyond the first glance, to stop and ask themselves who, what and why? During this time of contemplation, one can truly see the beauty of the piece and look beyond the struggle of black women living in today’s society - that of existing, but often being overlooked and ignored, despite being visible and impactful.
Born in DC, raised in Maryland and having spent years of her adulthood in Virginia, DC and Maryland, Agoussoye is a true product of the DMV area. Agoussoye fell in love with art as a young child, and through the years followed that passion to awards, decoration and a flourishing career in art and design. Her qualifications include a degree with the Art Institute of Washington, a residency with BET AIR’s artist in residence program, a summer long feature as part of the Phillips Collection’s 2021 Inside Out, Upside Down exhibit, as well as Lockwood Matthews Mansion Museum’s Socially Distant Art: Creativity in Lockdown, and a host of other events over the past four years.
Simone’s work is known for its larger than life depiction of recognizable personalities and icons of our current time, in a way that captures not only the strong exteriors of such ones, but also their palpable energy, and range of emotions. Recently the artist has pivoted to reflect a more personal perspective, through her collection of pieces featuring both persons from her personal life, as well as obscure faces, in a way that exposes a very individual perspective. In a country where there are many groups viewed as a minority, one group in particular both impacts all and yet remains overlooked and underestimated by most. In 1962, Malcolm X said, “The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.” This can be true of both America and many countries around the world. In spite of their treatment, does this mean that these women’s beauty is unnoticeable, or at worst nonexistent? Agoussoye presents a silent but profound answer to this question in the I Know You See Me exhibit. She invites viewers to come spend time with the art for a complete sensory, mental and emotional experience, as well as a chance to consider a new perspective by shining a light on their beauty and strength.
About Simone Agoussoye
Washington, DC born artist, Simone Agoussoye, has been honing her skills in portrait artistry for the past several years. Known for her creative depictions of people, Simone blends her traditional skill in portraiture with fresh, unique and unconventional techniques transforming her from a realistic fine artist to more of a contemporary artist. For more information on Simone and her art, visit www.simoneagoussoye.com
Contact:
Sierra Monet
Public Relations for Simone Agoussoye Art
sierra ( @ ) simoneagoussoye dot com
About the ArtReach GW
ArtReach GW builds programs and partnerships that foster community connections and civic engagement through the visual fine arts. As a part of the Honey W Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service at George Washington University, ArtReach free art programs and collaborative art projects are a vehicle to strengthen cross-cultural understanding, activate citizenship, and develop valuable art and design skills. ArtReach provides a safe, supportive, and enjoyable environment where DC youth and families make connections between art and their lives.
Contact:
Aselin Flowers
Director of ArtReach GW Community Gallery
artreach ( @ ) gwu dot edu
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