Detroit artist DeAnn Wiley creates colorful digital artwork pieces about Black life and more.
Photo and artwork by DeAnn Wiley
A bright light cascades down on three subject matters.
A Black mother, her daughter, and either a toddler girl or a baby doll. That conclusion of who the third subject might be is up to the viewer in self-taught painter and graphic artist DeAnn Wiley’s artistic piece, “Sit Still.”
Detroit artist DeAnn Wiley created this piece, “Sit Still” depicting an intimate moment at home with her mom.
Photo and artwork by DeAnn Wiley
“It’s about the intimacy between Black mothers and daughters and doing hair,” the native Detroiter said. “The picture is intended to be interpreted by the viewer so it can be a doll or another child.”
If pictures are worth a thousand words, then digital paintings surely must go for the same price if not more. Wiley’s piece can easily evoke warm emotions, feelings of nostalgia, [and maybe even a wince or two in recalling getting their hair done] as the digital painting shows the mother pulling a section of her daughter’s hair taut preparing to comb it out to put pink rollers in. The daughter already has several rollers placed on her Blue Magic-slicked coils. Wiley’s sharp eye for details doesn’t go unnoticed as the daughter holds onto a comb that is missing teeth with hair barrettes and balls strewn about. As the seemingly stoic mother dons a colorful head scarf sitting near an African-esque painting.
“I remember my butt hurting from sitting on thin pillows, tight scalps, and that feeling when mama was done and you looked in the mirror and just knew you were all that,” Wiley said in a Facebook post about her artwork. “I wouldn’t trade those times sitting between my mama’s legs, waiting for it to be over, for nothin’ in the world.”
Wiley is a new face on the art scene but a needed voice with her inspiring work. She joined this creative world not too long ago after wanting to put more Black-inspired artwork in the world. Wiley also said she couldn’t particularly relate to historic artists who didn’t look like her. In Wiley’s latest series is called the “Memories Collection” she created scenes from her childhood.
“My work is centered around Black, queer women. It focuses on celebrating fat, dark skin, women as well. When people see my art I want them to feel seen, worth being the subject of many paintings,” Wiley said. “It’s important for me to reflect my values in my art and to be intentional about who I center in my drawings.”
Wiley also uses her funds from her art to donate to Black transgender funds and individuals.
“I also donate to Black women in need,” she said. “I use my art to uplift and celebrate the Black community.”
Her artwork is prominently featured on Facebook under her page, DeeLashee Artistry, with nothing but rave reviews from folks who connect and appreciate her work [which includes her artwork on phone cases, pillows, and more] on a deeper level.
She creates images from her life with inspiration from her granny with artwork depicting scenes of Wiley’s grandmother making rolls in a piece titled, “Passing it Down.”
“Traditions mean a lot to me and I believe it’s what makes the holiday so special,” she said in her post. “I remember helping my granny make rolls. Using an empty can to cut the perfect circles. It was always so many traditions, so many recipes, so much love to pass down,” she said.
Her artwork invites the viewer to take a journey in the imagery and with so many shades, shapes, sizes, hairstyles, and moments in these depictions one [especially the Black audience] cannot help but see themselves in the work of art.
“Let me just Bump the Ends” is another image in a kitchen where Wiley is getting her hair done by her mother. The kitchen is filled with familiar knick-knacks that some in Black households grew up with: a framed Bible verse [Joshua 24:15] hanging up; Lawry’s seasoning salt displayed on an askew shelf, a hot comb on a stove eye, lightly sizzling once it rakes through the brown locks of the subject who sits cross-armed as her ends are being lightly curled.
“Sometimes I think my mama used to play on purpose. Girl, I said bone straight,” Wiley said in a teasing tone in another Facebook post. “This series has been so amazing for me because I’ve been talking to my mom asking her, ‘What was that sign granny always had up?’ Or texting my sister like, ‘Remember when we used to be mad when our hair didn’t turn out right?!”. It’s been great just connecting with myself and family this way.”
For more information or to see Wiley’s artwork visit https://www.deelasheeartistry.com/.
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