Joy is My Weapon

This work is a declaration of liberation and resistance, a visual statement that sets fire to the remnants of systematic oppression. Through this piece, Flahn challenges the dominance of Western thought and dismantle colonial ideologies that have sought to suppress Black identity.

Flahn Manly ( b. 1988, Monrovia, Liberia) is a Liberian native whose work focuses on freedom, hope, and social transformation. Flahn creates works that reflect his life’s journey and spirit of his soul. As an artist, he has an affinity for creating bodies of work using subjects with dark skin tones. His work is often a response to the challenging portrayal of communities of color in society. “Media has often portrayed us as loud; aggressive; unattractive; evil; and most of all: undesirable. “ In his defense, he aims to create a depiction of Black men, women and children in the image of love, grace, honor and great stature as they navigate and conquer spaces and industries. Flahn believes his art is a powerful mode of expression because of its nonverbal quality that makes it as once direct and so tacit. Flahn understands the importance of providing imagery that represents Blackness in a way that encompasses nobility and relatability.