Richmond artist Kyle Epps’ “D’T NGI Colored Space: The Other Side of the Sign” opened as a solo exhibition at Staunton Augusta Art Center Thursday.
Extended gallery hours are offered tonight until 7 p.m. to view Epps’ work, which interrogates the architecture of segregation and the psychological territories it creates.
The exhibition posits that space is never neutral; it is a construct of power, historically delineated to include and exclude. The “Colored Space” is claimed as a site of critical inquiry and potent creation.
Through reconfigured religious iconography, vibrant abstract paintings and a space rebranded with love and consideration, the artist explores the boundaries of an imposed reality. The question: “What does it mean to be colored?” is confronted in works that oscillate between the pain of pre-judgements and the defiant creation of sanctuary — in prayer, in art and in the home.
As a continuation of the “Due to Nature’s Guiding Influence” (D’T NGI) series, this exhibition subverts the perverse logic of a so-called “natural” social order. Instead, it asserts that nature’s true influence is not found in division, but in the resilient and irrepressible impulse to create, sanctify and flourish beyond all manufactured boundaries.
In Epps’ creative journey, they passionately embrace what they call freestyle art, which allows unbridled creativity to flow without constraints. The approach invites the unexpected and serves as a conduit for humanity’s profound desire to create, destroy, rebuild and seek meaning. Drawing inspiration from the present moment, their surroundings and deep emotions, Epps weaves a powerful gestural language that intricately unites a diverse tapestry of human experiences.
Their work resonates with fluidity and spontaneity, using bold strokes and vivid colors to evoke a sense of movement and emotional depth.
By blending mediums and styles, Epps celebrates the interconnected human experience and encourages viewers to break free from established norms and embrace new forms of artistic expression.
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From their home in Richmond, Epps is a dedicated land steward, cultural advocate, and lifelong student of art, history and science. Their journey spans decades of study and artistic practice, evolving from published scholar to award-winning artist.
Now married with children, Epps continues to blend diverse interests to inspire and foster greater harmony among individuals and their environments.
“D’T NGI Colored Space: The Other Side of the Sign” will be on view through November 3, 2025 at Staunton Augusta Art Center, 20 S. New Street in downtown Staunton.
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Rebecca Barnabi
