Of, By, and For: Women of Color in the Arts and the Decolonial Journey

Abstract

My research seeks to expand the discourse around decolonization by further dismantling and complicating the homogenous narrative of women of color in the arts within the colonial legacy. This work aims to reinforce the self-determination of women of color in challenging cultural production and shifting it from the Eurocentric scope as well as the gender power structure constructed by colonialism. The project responds to not only decolonization within the art world but also the erasure of colonized women which then demands our narratives be heard as part of the process of decolonization. This project engages in radical self-reflection by learning from and collaborating with a group of female leaders of color and approaches narrative through a decolonial lens. At the core of this work are five one-hour conversations engaging five women of color art leaders – all at different points in their careers and from vastly different backgrounds. Accompanying the written portion of the capstone, are the video files of each interview. These conversations center their individual narratives, their relationship to the art world, and the role of decolonization within their practices and ways of thinking. Focusing on the journeys of these five women as well as my own, a narrative methodology is used here. However, the standard academic process is also challenged as it often reflects coloniality/modernity–being a process based in knowledge and resource extraction. Contrastingly, this work emphasizes reciprocity and self- determination. Finally, reflexivity plays an important role in reciprocating my own narrative, perspectives, and vulnerabilities.