MARY W.D. GRAHAM

Portraits of My Ancestors

2017 – 2022
An image of the painting "Great Grandmother Mary Graham" by Mary Graham from the series "Portraits Of My Ancestors." The painting depicts an elderly, smiling African-American woman shown from the hips up with a short grey afro wearing a grey blouse and apron.
An image of the painting "Uncle Floyd" by Mary Graham from the series "Portraits Of My Ancestors." The painting depicts a smiling, middle-aged African-American man from the waist up, wearing glasses and a white button down shirt.

Oil on unvarnished copper. 12×6″ and 8×10″

ABOUT

“Portraits of My Ancestors” depicts my family members both living and dead. The unvarnished copper surfaces will patina over time, slowly transforming the image and serving as a metaphor for the ephemerality of memory. The small scale of the portraits foster a sense of beauty and intimacy, conveying the perseverance of the subjects’ love from beyond their passing.