Melannie Chard
Jan 11, 2026

As we prepare for Andre Barker's upcoming exhibition, Rest Is, opening this Friday, we wanted to share a closer look at the ideas shaping this new body of work.

Rest Is centers moments of ease, presence, and quiet connection, scenes that honor Black life lived without performance or interruption. In advance of the opening, I asked Andre some questions about the role of Detroit in his practice, and what it means to depict rest as both a personal and political act.

Detroit is often framed through narratives of labor, hustle, and survival. How does “Rest Is” push back against or expand those narratives?

When I was in Chicago, people called me a 'true Detroit guy' because of the assembly-line approach I take to creating a lot of work at once. I was also one of the hardest-working people in my cohort so much so that a professor once said she was worried all I did was work. I relied on this system and a ruthless work ethic to establish my practice, but I also believe it is important for me and everyone else to rest. I believe we should be proud of our reputation as Detroiters, but it is equally important to "pause for the cause". I see my work, showing Black people existing in this strange space we call America while thriving and minding our business as a chance to reflect on the peace we find when we aren't working, and how we can incorporate that rest into our routines.

*Chamber of Reflection*, 2025 | Acrylic on canvas, 36 × 36 inches

Detroit has a deep history of figurative painting that centers Black life. How do you see your work in conversation with other artists working in the city right now?

The one thing I love about Black figurative painters is that we are all talking about Black identity, representation, or the Black experience. Because of that, I think it's great that we are all having the same conversation while putting our own perspectives into our work to continue the dialogue instead of trying to create new ones. I look at the work other Detroit artists are doing and think it's great that we are all featuring Black people in our work and highlighting them in different ways.

*Ready for the Weekend*, 2025 | Acrylic on canvas, 40 × 30 inches

Are there specific Detroit artists past or present who have shaped how you think about figuration, narrative, or responsibility to community?

One of the most influential Detroit artists I look up to is Mario Moore. As a self-taught painter, I often study the work of artists I admire to understand their techniques and see how I can implement them into my own practice. Even though he works in oils and I use acrylics, seeing his piece 'The Council' in person at the DIA inspired me to find ways to make my own work more vibrant and to experiment with new mediums. Mario was also one of the first painters I reached out to for advice on rendering skin when I began painting in 2023. Even before I picked up a brush, back when I was primarily drawing, he advised me not to 'hit people over the head' with my meaning. He encouraged me to be more subtle, which pushed me to explore the different types of symbolism I use today. Both directly and indirectly, his guidance has significantly improved my practice.

*Express Yourself*, 2025 | Acrylic on canvas, 48 × 36 inches

As Detroit continues to change socially, economically, and culturally what do you think it means to insist on images of rest and presence now, and how do you hope these works will age alongside the city?

I believe it is vital to show Black people at rest, free from external worry, because we are some of the hardest-working people in this country. We built this city just as we built this nation, but I often wonder: do we always have to be working? When do we get to rest? As Detroit changes, I believe my work will age well alongside the city's growth. We did the work and we stayed. While we will continue to build this city, it is also okay to reflect on how far we've come. As the years pass, I want people to look at my work and know it's okay to relax, have fun, or simply stop to plan for what comes next. Much like exercise, where training every single day without a break is actually counterproductive, rest days and 'cheat days' are just as important.