The ARTx3 Campus invites the community to experience Blaque, a deeply personal and visually striking exhibition by Pine Bluff native Jonathan Rashad Wright. On view Feb. 19 – July 3, 2026, at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas (ASC), the exhibition challenges viewers to slow down, look closely, and consider how a single shade can carry generations of meaning.
An opening reception will be held from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at ASC, 701 S. Main St. The event is free and open to the public, with refreshments available.
“BLAQUE—often seen as strength and elegance. But, for some, this shade evokes feelings of sadness and grief,” Wright writes in his artist statement.
With “Blaque,” Wright intentionally reimagines the word “black,” using an alternate spelling to signal deeper layers of interpretation. For some viewers, it may register first as a shade. For others, it represents culture, identity, and lived experience within the African diaspora. In Wright’s hands, it becomes both.
Using matte black paint on black paper, Wright creates works that initially appear minimal—nearly disappearing into darkness. But as viewers spend time with each piece, subtle forms and textures begin to surface. The effect is deliberate. The work resists quick consumption and instead rewards patience and sustained attention.
“The way the dark image seems to vanish,” Wright explains, “serves as a cryptic example of how African American history—from royal ancestry to dehumanization—is at risk of fading into nonexistence.”
Wright describes his style as “a traditional woodcut with a modern twist.” He primarily works in relief printmaking, carving wood by hand while also incorporating laser engraving technology. The balance between manual craftsmanship and contemporary tools mirrors the themes within the exhibition—honoring tradition while embracing advancement.
A graduate of Southeast Arkansas College and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Wright later earned his Master of Fine Arts in printmaking from Arizona State University. Now an instructor at UAPB, he continues to shape emerging artists while deepening his own practice.
His influences range from his junior high art teacher, Cathy Burns, who nurtured his early talent, to acclaimed printmaker Delita Martin, whose encouragement helped propel him toward graduate study. In 2023, Wright received the Mid-America Arts Alliance’s Catalyze Grant, further affirming his growing regional and national recognition.
The exhibition is also rooted in personal experience. The passing of Wright’s maternal grandmother marked what he describes as a “Blaque” moment—a period of darkness and reflection that informed this body of work. Through these prints, he channels grief, resilience, family tradition, and cultural pride.
“Blaque is not merely a shade,” Wright writes. “It is a moment in time for reflection.”
Much of the work featured in the exhibition is new, and this marks Wright’s first time exhibiting at The Arts & Science Center. He hopes visitors leave with a renewed understanding of how color—and culture—can shape identity in ways both visible and unseen.
“I’m hoping viewers take away the power a color can have on your life,” he said, “and how heritage is more than what you see or hear in the media.”
The opening reception for Blaque will take place from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. The exhibition will remain on view through July 3, 2026.
For more information, contact Matthew Howard, gallery and visitor specialist, at mhoward@artx3.org or 870-536-3375.
