ABOUT

Audia Yvonne Dixon (born 1992)- a Fresno born artist , explores the multifaceted experiences of Black identity and weaving historical and social ties that are bound to the natural world. With her emphasis in oil painting and linocut relief printmaking, she creates metaphoric narratives that capture the essence of Black girlhood and the complex journey towards womanhood.

At the heart of her artistic practice , lies a deep fascination with the interplay between the human experience and the natural environment. Dixon immerses herself in developing connections on the importance of depicting Black figures in pastoral-esque spaces ( either real or imaginary) to extend Black narratives and to argue their place with the land. And because landscapes is part of her foundational elements in her work, she also seeks the surreal and the tangible to critically analyze how the psyche is affected by nature. Furthermore, she also is fond of the delicate and powerful sense of nostalgia. This additional layer to her body of work dives into recollecting and visualizing rich (even convoluted) memories and historical knowledge that is tempered by the promise of growth and transformation. And it is within her dream-like oil paintings and linocut prints that she invites the viewer to embark on a multidimensional journey of self-discovery and collective introspection.

She received both her BA and MA in Art at Fresno State University, and was awarded both the Graduate Deans Medal and Presidential Dean’s Medal in 2022 for her contributions to art. She is a strong advocate in the practice of visual arts for people of color in the Central Valley. And she has participated in numerous exhibitions and lectures at institutions such as Bakersfield College, Santa Monica College and Cornell University.

She is an adjunct art professor at Clovis Community College and Fresno State University.