BLACK ART HISTORY: Raymond Saunders

Raymond Saunders’ work really speaks to me—not just because of how it looks, but because of how it feels. He creates these layered, chaotic pieces that feel like emotional collages: part memory, part protest, part diary. His mix of painted text, chalk lines, random objects, and messy storytelling reminds me of how I try to use visual clutter and color to show what’s underneath the surface. Like me, he plays with the tension between what’s being said and what’s being felt. It’s not always linear or polished, but it’s honest.

What hits the most is that Saunders never let himself be boxed in as just a “Black artist making Black art.” He challenged the pressure to explain or educate, and that refusal—that sense of defiance—really inspires me. He made work on his own terms, using materials that felt raw and real. That messy, brave, unapologetic storytelling? It’s exactly what I hope to channel in my own art: something personal, a little chaotic, deeply political—but wrapped in texture and color that pulls people in.