Weekends at the Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, 540 S. Lake St., Gary, IN.. Gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays 6-9pm and Sundays 1-4pm.
Parris is a Gary native whose work can be described as both eclectic, and captivating. He is a contemporary artist who enjoys a wide range of mediums including sculpture, collage, watercolors, acrylics and oil painting. As a self-taught artist for the past 8 years, he has attained over a dozen commissions within Northwest Indiana and the Chicagoland area. For over two years, Parris has painted live for a traveling poetry show called “Cultural Cool” during which he honed his craft and love for making art. Parris is currently enrolled as an Art Education major at Indiana University Northwest. He studied Fine Arts from the Art Institute Chicago, and received his Associate’s degree in Media Arts from Robert Morris College. Coupled with his expanding education, Parris has diligently poured back into the youth of Gary by taking part in teaching a summer art program at the Boys and Girls Club, working as a Studio Art Instructor for a Visual Performing Arts program and as an Adjunct Art teacher at Mosiac International Academy. A devoted father of two (Parris Jr. & Peyton), Parris can often be seen creating fun and entertaining activities with his boys. As Parris continues to enhance his unique style, he sets his sights on more collaborative projects, community involvement, as well as innovative and refreshing exhibits in the future.
His work is a social commentary on issues including: social inequality, sexuality, and intra-racial relationships. He also adds a bit of childhood nostalgia with hip hop undertones. Parris has been influenced by the works of Kehinde Wiley and Tamara de Lempicka.
“The Pain't in My Life” is part of our Exhibits series.
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