GAZAN KNIGHTS, 2024

Zakariya Abdul-Qadir, born and based in Brooklyn, creates abstract representational paintings inspired by community, history, and cultural diaspora. After graduating from Brooklyn College, he expanded his visual style by examining the dialogue between colors. With each layer of paint, Abdul-Qadir aims to create spontaneous impressions of the quotid- ian. He paints the people, objects, and places of his community and day-to-day life, flattening some objects and rendering others three-dimensionally. He imbues his work with themes from America’s history that affect us today. He’s interested in how our collective narratives create a metaphorical tap- estry that is strong in holding this country together, flexible, and fragile because history can be lost. “Cultural heritage manifests itself through my research of artists I’m in conversation with. I look at the works of Jacob Lawrence [for instance] and how he evokes a narrative of American history often not told. I had a show in Hudson where I displayed my Living Legends series. A few people questioned my decision to display politicians and asked if my work was political. I said, ‘My work isn’t political because I display politicians. I’m a political body in this country by birth, and the decisions I make will always be perceived as political. Simultaneously, I’m a person who longs to just be.’ So, I ask, ‘What does it mean to just be for me and people like me?’”