Rest Is
ANDRE BARKER
Upcoming Exhibition: January 2026
“I wanted to create a series that captures the profound beauty of Black existence. Simply living, without external worry or care. This work is a meditation on taking up space, on being fully present, whether in connection with one another or by themselves.
Especially during a time of political unrest, it feels crucial to show Black people who are unbothered, existing fully within their own bubble. The colored borders around the figures are intentional; they are designed to push them out of the canvas and directly into our space.
This series is a celebration of Black people at rest, because true rest is an act of power, a peace of mind, a form of resistance, and a testament to our unwavering humanity. It is in this simple act of existing that we find our greatest strength.”
- Andre Barker, 2025
In his new series, Andre Barker delves into the complexities of Black identity through the use of a recurring motif - the "Thank You, Come Again" plastic bag, often depicted partially obscuring the head. Barker employs this bag as a powerful metaphor to represent the feelings of disposability and discomfort that can surface within predominantly white environments. This sense of separation and alienation is visually reinforced by Barker's depiction of white space with sparsely sketched surroundings, further isolating the fully rendered Black figures inhabiting the canvas. Recently, Barker's work also conveys a sense of agency and resilience. He illustrates the figures actively breaking free from this imposed discomfort by showing them pulling at the bag or having it removed entirely, suggesting a rejection of these limiting feelings and a reclaiming of their identity.
ANDRE BARKER
Andre Barker Jr. (b. 1997) is a figurative painter from Detroit, Michigan. He graduated summa cum laude with his BFA from Wayne State University in 2022 and earned his MFA from Columbia College Chicago in 2024. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the James Pearson Duffy Department of Art, Art History & Design at Wayne State University in Detroit, Ml, and is represented by M Contemporary Art.
Barker has received several accolades, including two Art Activity and Achievement awards from Wayne State University, a Dwight W. Follett Continuing Graduate Student Fellowship, and a Diversity and Inclusion Award from Columbia College Chicago. His work has been exhibited at The 3 Square Art gallery in Fort Collins, CO; The Buckham Gallery in Flint, MI; The KCAD Alluvium Gallery in Grand Rapids, MI; and The Detroit Historical Museum in Detroit, MI. In 2024, he held a solo show at M Contemporary Art in Ferndale, MI. He was also selected for the 2025 Judy Sigunick "fellowship in the Visual Arts at the Ragdale residency in Lake View, IL, and will be featured in New American Paintings, No. 179, Midwest Issue.