Hero of a archival pigment print by Danielle Mckinney

Danielle Mckinney

Sandman

€700
Limited edition of 117650.8 (H) × 40.5 (W) cm

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In Sandman, Danielle Mckinney explores the transformative power of dreams.

To Danielle, rest is sacred — particularly for the Black women who inhabit her paintings. Her edition’s title, Sandman, refers to a figure in European folklore that brings sleep and pleasant dreams by sprinkling magical sand in people’s eyes. Channeling this mythical figure, Danielle asks who deserves rest, and who is allowed to dream.

At the centre of the print is Danielle’s interpretation of Le Rêve, Picasso’s 1932 painting of his sleeping young mistress. The colour-blocked cubism stands out within Danielle’s earth-toned interior. Underneath the framed Picasso, another sleeping woman sinks into an olive green couch. Although she is fully nude, her depiction seems less voyeuristic than the exposed breast of Picasso’s subject. By including Le Rêve in Sandman, Danielle emancipates the image of the sleeping woman from the white male gaze of art history.

I feel like I always missed out on seeing classical paintings with Black women. I think, subconsciously, I always wanted to see it. So I was like, ‘Why not paint it?

Danielle Mckinney
Danielle Mckinney by Pierre Le Hors
Danielle Mckinney3 collaborationsIntimate and contemplative, Danielle Mckinney paints moments of female solitude. Using acrylic paint on canvas, she puts single figures in homely places. They’re always occupied, whether smoking a cigarette or sitting deep in thought. She draws attention to physical details, using luminous colours. The photographic backgrounds, faces and fingernails are often highlighted in bright orange. She says, "I can’t undo that photographic training – it’s embedded in how I begin a painting". She uses photos of Art Deco interiors from Pinterest and Instagram as a starting point. American painters Barkley L. Hendricks and Kerry James Marshall inspire her. Both had a huge influence on Black American portraiture.

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Reviews from Avant collectors

  • much better than rxpected. the print is high quality and the packaging professional

  • From start to finish, the process of purchasing, claiming the NFT counterpart, and receiving the framed piece was nothing short of excellent. My entire experience with Avant Arte displayed a level of professionalism and excellence across the board. Well done!

  • I loved the purchasing experience, and the artwork I ended up with. I would definitely come back for future art purchases :)

  • the packaging was amazing.

  • The artwork is amazing, the quality of the printing is sublime, I am totally amazed, Thank you

  • this piece is legendary. So so happy with this purchase. Finally, my own Decendent sculpture!

  • Overall very good communication the work itself is great quality!

  • Having purchased many items from outside NZ, I can say with sincerity, that the communications, packaging and delivery have been exemplary! A copybook experience for an online, overseas art purchase. Thank you!


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