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Derricka Davis
UNITED STATES
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“My paintings are where I can celebrate joy, madness, anger, and elegance without holding back.”
Derricka Davis, "DD'" as she goes by, is a 27-year-old, young black and emerging artist from Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up, Derricka knew art had always been a passion of hers. She loved it in every form, especially painting.
Ghetto Gala | Mixed Media
$200
Black women meet luxury.
She grew up watching the infamous Bob Ross on PBS every morning, with her Dollar Tree watercolor paint set, learning new techniques and how to paint from the heart. He was her first inspiration for painting. He taught her that art was more than expression. It was a way of life. Not only did he lead with beautiful skill, but he found a way to incorporate life lessons into his work. She carried that motto with her as she began dabbling and creating her work.
Afro Hipsters | Acrylic
$600
Brown girls with unique style and a little African flare.
Although she never got the chance to study art professionally, she wants to become an expressive art therapist, which she is currently trying to pursue. Ross had taught her that art could heal amongst many other things, so she took it and ran with it. She knew then that art would be a part of her life forever.
“Representation matters a lot to me when I am connecting with people through art and embracing culture.”
She has mainly painted for fun and in the comfort of her own home, afraid to unveil her work until family and friends expressed how much they loved her bold and playful artwork. Since then, she has been working on getting her pieces out there for people to see.
Afro Circus | Mixed Media
$250
For the brown girl who was called a “freak,” she makes standing out look beautiful.
Sisterhood that blooms despite the roots they grew from.
Rooted Sisters | Mixed Media
$250
Jean Michael Basquiat has also become one of her biggest inspirations. A black artist that she admired pushed the envelope with his work. He was true to his self-expression, putting everything positive or negative into his pieces. He didn't hold back, and Derricka can relate to being authentic to what's faithful to her, whether good or bad.
“My artwork is more than a movement of women empowerment but a statement that women of color can also exist in an unapologetically authentic and beautiful space.”
“My Afro-American identity and culture inspire my work and is the foundation on which my pieces stand.”
She has also taken inspiration from street art, that she would see around her city. She enjoyed how raw the work was, taking up space anywhere; unapologetic, which is what she wants for her work. She indulges in mixed media ranging from acrylic, gouache, watercolor, pastels, oils, and alcohol ink. She enjoys gouache and watercolor the most, as they have a way of being bright and subtle at the same time.
Sisters in Bloom | Watercolor
$300
Brown girls boldly standing united.
Derricka rarely works on small canvas; she prefers large canvases for her pieces. Her motto is– the bigger, the better. Larger canvases give her more motivation and inspiration and allow her imagination to be as big as her blank surface.
Living in Color | Gouache
$250
Brown girls boldly living out loud.
Women are the main subject of her work because she believes them to be the most misunderstood, especially women of color. She feels that their voices tend to get lost in translation, and they don't have room for emotions in the world without labels.
Afros and traditions.
The Tribe | Mixed Media
$200
“My pieces are loaded with bold colors and playful shapes, showcasing my childhood obsessions, black culture, and African influences.”
Love is Love | Acrylic
$250
Women of color in the LGBTQ community loving unapologetically.
Derricka’s collections of paintings celebrate the vibrancy of brown with all shades beautifully co-existing. These pieces are dedicated to her son Ozias who inspires her to keep creating from the heart.
Brown girls blooming in autumn.
Afros in Autumn | Acrylic
$200
Her pieces moving forward will include brown and black males being portrayed majestically as the women, allowing them to see a beautiful representation of themselves. Ozias inspires her to stay true to self-expression, self-love, and love for others. Enjoy.
Watercolor Me | Watercolor
$60
We don’t drown in deep waters, we rise.
“I have used painting as a form of self-expression and self-care over the past years.”
Derricka Davis
@derrickamckenzie
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