john alleyne:

ragga muffin royalty

aug 6 - 29, 2024

FIRST WEDNESDAY OPENING: Aug 7 FROM 6 - 9PM

ARTICULATE ARTIST TALK: SUNDAY, Aug 11, AT 4PM.

NORMAL GALLERY HOURS: TUE - SUN, 12PM - 6PM

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John Alleyne, born in St. John, Barbados, lives and works in New Orleans, LA. He is an artist, independent curator, and Assistant Professor of Art at Southern University and A&M College. His practice is rooted in explorations of freedom and sanctum, connecting his lived experience with an intuitive, experimental process of silkscreen markmaking.

Alleyne challenges notions of colonialism, social injustice, and stereotypes. He reclaims narratives and celebrates the beauty of going against mainstream societal norms.

“The word “Raggamuffin” was once a derogatory term used during the British colonial era in Jamaica to describe someone who was unkempt, ragged, or disreputable. It was often applied pejoratively by colonialists to disparage lower classes citizens, or people they viewed as socially inferior. This word was later embraced by Caribbean youth, particularly those identifying as Rasta (Rastafarian).
In search of a sense of belonging after immigrating from Barbados to the U.S., I was drawn to barbershop and salon hairstyle-guide portraits while noticing similar stock photos in both countries. These spaces represent bodily care, intimacy, and potential sanctuaries for Black and Brown bodies.
“Ragga Muffin Royalty” reinterprets these stock images by collaging them with self-portraits of my own dreadlocks. This inclusion honors my Barbadian heritage, in addition to the spiritual awareness and consciousness, often symbolized by dreadlocks.
By blending photography, experimental silkscreen and collage methods, I create a unique visual language that evokes nostalgia for old photos, departed loved ones, and rituals of care. I invite viewers to engage with a visual language which challenges colonialism and social injustice, stereotypes, reclaims narratives, and celebrates the beauty of going against mainstream societal norms. In honoring the past while embracing the present, I offer a reflection on the enduring legacy of Caribbean heritage.” - Alleyne

John Alleyne received his MFA from Louisiana State University, with a concentration in painting and drawing. He has been Artist-in-Residence at Ox-Bow, ACRE, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. He has exhibited work throughout various galleries and museums in the South, including Sulfur Studios in Savannah, GA, The Masur Museum in Monroe, LA, The LSU Museum in Baton Rouge, The Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and The Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. He has also exhibited work in New York, Chicago, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Ireland, and Barbados. His work is featured in New American Paintings (South Issue), Southern Cultures, The Chicago Reader, The Shepherd Express, Studio Visit Magazine, 225 Magazine, Savannah Now, and Issue #23 of The Hand Magazine.

Alleyne is an artist member of Baton Rouge Gallery and a member of Antenna Artist Collective in New Orleans. Alleyne is also the recipient of a 2023 Take Notice Fund Award.

This exhibition is presented alongside the latest works from Diane Hanson, Brad Jensen, and Matt Morris. All works from these artists are on view, free of charge, during regular gallery hours (12 - 6 p.m., Tue - Sun) from Aug 6 - 29, 2024.