Unapologetically Me: A Response by Alvin Clayton

Painter Alvin Clayton’s art has taken on a new urgency in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd and the international wave of support for the Black Lives Matter movement. The works in his new show “Unapologetically Me: A Response by Alvin Clayton” takes the artist out of his comfort zone: “For too long my feelings have stayed silent,” he says, adding “This is how I see things. This is my pain. This is me letting my voice be heard.”

The virtual exhibit, being presented jointly by Iona College’s Brother Kenneth Chapman Gallery and NRCA, was created by Clayton and photographer/filmmaker Nick Carter and juxtaposes striking paintings with interviews of the artist. “Unapologetically Me” opens July 6th and can be viewed HERE.

Iona Gallery Director Madalyn Barbero Jordan observes “The murder of George Floyd prompted a reaction like never before from many members of our country and our world. Sometimes words are not quite enough and we need to turn to art.” She says that with this exhibit “we have both. {Alvin Clayton} has responded like never before with a personal, passionate and political response to the pain he and his community are and have been experiencing for far too long.”The exhibit runs through September 30th. Visit the Iona College Council on the Arts website to access both a video Artist Gallery Talk and a slideshow of the works.