About

Shayne Herrera is an oil painter based in Richmond, Virginia. His practice focuses mainly on uplighting the image of Black and brown bodies through modes of storytelling to bring light to the levels of preservation and resilience that exist within Black culture. Herrera is originally from Warrenton, Virginia where he was raised primarily by Black maternal figures that influence his overall practice. He earned his BFA in Painting & Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University in Spring of 2022. During his time at VCU he was President of a student-led organization called BASE (Black Art Student Empowerment). For three years he led the organization that presented events that included showcases and workshops. The mission of BASE is to nurture a confident community and create opportunities for Black artists. Under Herrera’s leadership BASE members conducted community engagements with Richmond Public Schools through classroom visits and supply drives. Herrera’s most recent award is the 2022 - 2023 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Professional Fellow.

My work is rooted in uplifting the image of Black and brown bodies, by emphasizing storytelling, and the individuality and confidence that is shared as a result of being nurtured by generations of Black maternal figures. The communal reverence instilled within me from my mother, grandmother, cousins, and aunts have guided me through life. It is through their consistency in providing nourishment, housing and unconditional love that has informed the majority of my practice. These types of care come in different forms, but my favorite is through cooking which provides light to the private and public realms of how Black maternal care is shown through my family.     

My work engages in the different forms of storytelling within the Black community and illuminates the spaces in which such interactions occur. I utilize painting, photography, video and performance to create opportunities for different modes of voices and storytelling to transmit. Oral storytelling is the predominant mode explored in the works, while written and photographic documentation are incorporated as well. The work brings awareness to the evolving climate surrounding these modes of storytelling and condition of the individuals that participate in them. My work brings light to the levels of preservation and transparency that operate within Black culture, that yield genuine narratives from which others can form an elevated understanding. 

Education:

Virginia Commonwealth University

BFA Spring 2022 Painting & Printmaking