DATE NIGHT - Tatyana Fazlalizadeh : "Oklahoma Is Black" at Oklahoma Contemporary

On Sunday we visited Oklahoma Contemporary to see the “Oklahoma Is Black” exhibit by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. This was hands down the most moving exhibit I’ve ever experienced. Tatyana is an Oklahoma native who now dwells in New York. Through her work she is confronting those who attempted to erase us completely. Her work is not for empathy or to gain respect from white people but for them to see us existing, celebrating and being loved.

Tatyana has so much talent that it is visually overwhelming. She has a way of capturing the actual essence of blackness. Love was all I felt as we entered the exhibit. I think right now is such an important time for me to visit this exhibition considering the lack of black celebration in Oklahoma. I have experienced more prejudice here in the past two years than I have my whole life. It would have been nice to see this exhibit at the “Project Row” houses in my hometown, but I am still very thankful for the experience. Maybe seeing it in Oklahoma added power to my interpretations.

The mood of the gallery gave me a Solange “When I get home” tone as far as the contemporary simplicity of black beauty displayed. She had old school family portraits and black culture all throughout. There are black roots here in Oklahoma and this exhibit was a reminder of that. I remember Troy telling me about Black Wallstreet, a community in Tulsa Oklahoma that was very successful in the early twentieth century. This was a thriving black community in Greenwood with black owned banks, grocery stores, beauty supply stores, hospitals and car dealerships. This place was basically Wakanda, and it was burned to the ground by white supremacists leaving families in despair. Tatyana really is putting on for Oklahoma and its history in this exhibit.

I felt beautiful and accepted in this space. I felt comfortable like I was in a room with my family. All of the art was relatable and nostalgic. Seeing black motherhood and black family pictures really was relaxing. The words she used in her art were everyday thoughts we have as black people. It was all of our woes and all of our magic in a very transparent but loving light. It felt alright to be black and strong.

There were video installations throughout the studio. There was also an activity area with mirrors to draw your reflection which was really neat to see. Phoenix behaved and let his dad and I enjoy which is was nice of him. I like where we are right now as far as Black culture. I am really proud to be black and be a black mother. Proud to be a black creative. Art is something that cannot be silenced and thats my favorite part about it. There are no limits with art.

I deeply encourage everyone to try and see this exhibit. Visit her Instagram @tlynnfaz for more information. She also has prints and merch available.

Photos taken by Troy Fox and yours truly. We tried the iPhone XS camera and loved how these shots came out.

Have you seen this exhibit already? Lets talk about it !