Ebony Magazine
How Artist Miles Regis Is Sparking a Much-Needed Conversation on Race
By Erickka Savané
February 23, 2017
If you haven’t heard of Los Angeles-based, Trinidad-born artist Miles Regis yet, you will. He learned to paint at age five, by watching his uncle Alexander King, one of Trinidad’s most renowned artists. The Huffington Post compared Regis to Basquiat and Jackson Pollack, and he was a standout at Miami’s Art Basel this past season where he headlined for Art Africa. Regis just wrapped a month-long exhibit in Los Angeles called “Unapologetic Truth,” and celebs like Jesse Williams, Nicolette Sheridan, and The Marley Family are fans.
When you look at his work it’s easy to see what the fuss is about. First, there’s his aesthetic. Using the cultural landscape of his native Trinidad—the masquerading, costuming, and art installation—he pulls you in. Then there’s a story, message, or call to action that stirs something deep within.
It’s on purpose.
“I want to start a conversation,” Regis says. “It’s easy to get people’s attention with a pretty picture, and by the time they lean in, the conversation has started.”….