ART + DESIGN SENIOR EXHIBITION
Reina Hudspeth
BA Drawing with a Minor in Illustration
Website: reinahudspethart.com
Instagram: @reina_hudspeth
ARTIST STATEMENT: The Realm of Black Autistic Motherhood is about the possibility of my becoming a mother. I sense that motherhood may be messy. That some things may be removed or erased in order to let more important priorities sweep on in. Even though it may be dainty and sweet, it could be chaotic at the same time. There are many stereotypes that pertain to Black mothers, and Black women who are about to give birth are more likely to experience a traumatic birth experience. In this work, I challenge any negative connotations about what it means to be a Black mother while still considering the ways in which I could mother another individual that shares my heritage. I am also autistic. There are rarely representations in art history that really delve into the mindset of a Black woman with children. It is non-existent for an autistic Black woman to address the possible resilience of what it means to be a mother through the lens of art. With much less an autistic one. Art needs more representation and voices in order to push art history into a more inclusive arena.