Melding the figurative style of European Renaissance tapestries with the abstracted textiles of West Africa, Diedrick Brackens crafts visceral, evocative tapestries which trace Black and queer histories in America and their presence in contemporary society. Silhouettes of black figures dancing, embracing, or swimming are woven into the foreground of his dreamlike backdrops, full of vitality. The large-scale textile works are both deeply personal and allegorical. They are laden with poetic motifs from Brackens' own experiences of growing up in Mexia, Texas, such as catfish and specific fauna; whilst historical figures within the context of the American South, such as Black cowboys or Southern faith healers also surface in these tender tableaux— fusing intimate memories within larger archival threads of African American history. Building on the aesthetic and technical influence of weavers such as Anni Albers, Faith Ringgold, or the Gee’s Bend Quilt Collective, Brackens continues to develop a visually distinct style which is lyrical, delicate, and assured. ...
