CLIFTON HENRI

Artist Statement

My work is heavily rooted in identity, under representation and self-declaration. Intentionally focusing on portraits of Black and Brown people and the environments they live in, I visually illustrate and narrate the African diaspora using my own personal experiences and feelings as fuel.

 Through my own upbringing and experiences as an African-American, I am deeply drawn to and often in conflict with the idea of “BELONGING”, within my own community, as an American and as a Human.  This journey is particularly reflective, soul-searching and takes you down a path of defining moments that happen in the “everyday” that I then document through my photography. My work is a place for me to interpret my own Blackness and Humanity. This journey has helped me define my place in the world and take more definitive stances on how I want to culturally, ethnically and individually be seen.

 Deeply influenced by imagery from the Civil Rights Movement and the Harlem Renaissance eras, the works of great visual storytellers, such as James VanDerZee, Gordon Parks, and Roy DeCarava, have truly helped me discover and define my style. I would describe my work as autobiographical or self-portrait in a figurative sense. Much of what I choose to photograph is based on a personal and shared experience of humanity and blackness, a thread that is willfully woven throughout my work. I challenge the viewer to find not only themselves but also the poetry in these simple yet defining stills; where everyday human stories are told deliberately through a lens where darker complexions are the Stars.

 I want my photographs to speak in a language that inspires empathy, empowerment and strength while embracing themes of social justice, cultural currency and the power of perspective.

About the Artist
Clifton Henri (American, b. 1979) is an Award-Winning Photographer & Visual Artist from Chicago, IL. Henri received his Bachelors Degree in Mass Communication from Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design from The Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. Beginning his career as an Art Director for a small advertising agency, Henri transitioned to being a full-time independent artist and now exhibits across the country. Henri’s work has been added to many public / private collections and is currently working on a new body of work.

AWARDS
2020 Award of Merit - Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (FL)
2020 Best in Show - Mount Dora Festival of the Arts (FL)

2019 Award of Excellence (Top 10) - The Plaza Art Fair (MO)
2019 2nd Place Award - Saint Louis Art Fair (MO)
2019 Katrina Hadley Photography Award - 57th Street Art Fair (IL)
2019 Best in Photography - Bridgeport Art Center Art Competition (IL)
2019 The Mayor’s Award - Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (FL)
2019 Award of Distinction - Art Festival Beth-El (FL)

2018     2nd Place Overall - Bethesda Row Art Festival (MD)
2018    Best in Show Photography - Saint Louis Art Fair (MO)
2018    Best in Show Photography - Kimball Park City Art Festival (UT)
2018     Merit Award - Main Street Art Festival Fort Worth (TX)
2018     Best in Photography - Bridgeport Art Center Art Competition (IL)

2017     Award of Excellence (Top 10) - The Plaza Art Fair (MO)
2017     Best in Show Photography - Kimball Park City Art Festival (UT)
2017     Best in Show Photography - Ann Arbor 'The Original' Art Fair (MI)
2017     Best in Show Photography - Art Fair on the Square (WI)
2017     Best in Show Photography - Lakefront Festival of Art (WI)
2017     3rd Place Photography - Coconut Grove Art Festival (FL)
2017     Best in Photography - Black Creativity Juried Exhibition (IL)
2017     3rd Place Overall - Black Creativity Juried Exhibition (IL)

2016    Best in Show Photography - Kimball Park City Art Festival (UT)
2016    Award of Excellence (Top 10) - Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, The Original (MI)
2016    Juror's Choice Award - Des Moines Art Festival (IA)
2016    Best in Show - Old Town Art Fair (IL)
2016    Best in Show - 4 Bridges Art Festival (TN)
2016    Best in Photography - Bridgeport Art Center Art Competition (IL)
2016    Artist of Note - South Miami Art Festival (FL)

2015    Best in Show - Kimball Park City Art Festival (UT)
2015    Best in Show Overall - Paseo Art Festival (OK)
2015    Best in Photography - East Lansing Art Festival (MI)
2015    Best in Show 2D - Art City Austin Art Festival (TX)
2015    Award of Merit - Winter Park Art Festival (FL)
2015    2nd In Show Overall - South Miami Rotary Art Festival (FL)

2014    Juror's Choice Award - Columbus Art Festival (OH)
2014    1st Place Photography Award - Coconut Grove Art Festival (FL)
2014    3rd in Show Overall - South Miami Rotary Art Festival (FL)
2014    Friends of the Museum Award - Gasparilla Art Festival (FL)

2013    Honorable Mention - Mount Dora Art Festival (FL)
2013    2nd Place Photography Award - Coconut Grove Art Festival (FL)
2013    Artist of Note - South Miami Rotary Art Festival (FL)
2013    Best in Photography - Art in the Square (IL)
2013    Merit Award - Cherry Creek Art Festival (CO)
2013    Best in Show / Photography - Art Fair on the Square (WI)

2012    Best in Photography - Mount Dora Art Festival (FL)
2012    1st Place Photography Award - Coconut Grove Art Festival (FL)
2012    Illinois Artist Award - Art on the Square (IL)
2012    Honorable Mention - Lakefront Festival of the Arts (WI)
2012    2nd Place Overall - Chastain Park Arts Festival (GA)
2012    Top 40 under 40 Chicago GameChangers Award - WVON (IL)

2011     Best in Photography - Black Creativity MSI Chicago (IL)
2011     3rd Place Overall - Black Creativity MSI Chicago (IL)
2011     Award of Honor - Art Festival Beth-El (FL)
2011     Award of Distinction - Naples National Art Festival (FL)
2011     Best in Photography - Art City Austin Art Festival (TX)
2011     Best in Show 2D - Art City Austin Art Festival (TX)

2010    Black Creativity Artist - Museum of Science and Industry (IL)
2010    1st Place in 2D - Art Fest Ft. Myers (FL)
2010    3rd in Show Award - South Miami Rotary Art Festival (FL)
2010    Award of Merit - Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (FL)
2010    Reddy Memorial Award - Gasparilla Festival of the Arts (FL)
2010    Best in Photography - Art City Austin (TX)
2010    Diamond Purchase Award - East Lansing Art Festival (MI)
2010    Merit Award - Edina Arts Festival (MN)

2009   Award of Distinction - Winter Park Art Festival (FL)
2009   Award of Excellence - Art at the Promenade (IL)
2009   Best in Photography - East Lansing Art Festival (MI)
2009   Best in Photography - Wells Street Art Festival (IL)
2009   Best in Show - Arts, Beats and Eats (MI)
2009   Editor's Choice Award - CBS Capture My Chicago (IL)

2008   Katrina Hadley Award - 57th Street Art Fair (IL)
2008   Best in Show - Bucktown Art Festival (IL)
2008   Curator's Choice Artist - Around the Coyote Fall Festival (IL)

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Cuba City
Exhibition Currently on Tour

Cuba City is a poignant and timeless exhibition of photographs featuring the colors, culture & textures of Havana, Cuba. In five days of exploration, photographer Clifton Henri, shares with us a collection of portraits and abstracts that elicit an emotionally filled narrative of grit, pride and resilience. Primarily using natural-light to produce these film-stills, Henri focuses on the beauty and simplicities of the Afro-Cuban experience and in the process reveals the complex parallels to his upbringing as a young man on the Southside of Chicago, IL.

Inspiration

I draw inspiration not only from my own personal experiences but from other artists as well. I look at their courage, techniques and artistic voices as a reminder that it's okay to express yourself. I actually am encouraged by these artists to continue my pursuit and share my own stories through whatever medium that may be.