Artist Statement 

Tony Whitfield’s work begins with the material culture that shapes or details compelling stories of his life and the contexts in which he has lived. Whitfield understands his perceptions of all aspects of his experience, as he reflects them, as “self-portraits.” Whether produced in solitude or with others, as Whitfield CoLabs, Whitfield creates contexts that present and interpret aspects of urban experience that illuminate social change, through the lens of queer and underrepresented lives. Through collaboration with artists, designers, technicians and organizations that engage these populations, narratives are developed and presented in multiple media to engender greater understanding of the histories, humanity, contradictions and transcendence of lived cultural phenomena.