ARTIST STATEMENT

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I create paintings, sculptural, and lens-based projects that explore negative archetypes and stark racial disparities still operating in the language and psychology of contemporary American culture. I audit contemporary language to create counter-narratives, new definitions, and safe spaces for conversations that lead to increased empathy, understanding, insight, public engagement, and community impact. I always work in a long-term context. My intention is for the work to live beyond the moment as a point of reference for those in the future looking for ways to combat injustice, but in a more idealized world where equity is more a reality than a daydream, the work can serve as critical documentation of the experiences of marginalized people. I often cite Black experiences, but my inquiry into various forms of oppression can be a resource for any kind of person living on the margins of society. My work in totality is a composite reflection of human experiences with universal themes, wide reach, and astonishing responses. My images are generalized to provoke the viewer to project their thoughts, feelings, and biases onto the work, creating the impetus for discussion.

“Only through discussion can we find a middle ground that may lead to an amicable solution.”

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ARTIST BIO

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​Michael Coppage is originally from Chicago, Illinois, and now resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied at Memphis College of Art and obtained a BFA degree with an emphasis in sculpture. He continued his education and obtained an MFA degree from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) with an emphasis on sculpture and mixed media.