The Divine 9 & Their Disciples
by DaQuane Cherry
About the Exhibit
This series titled “THE DIVINE 9 & THEIR DISCIPLES” is an homage to the founding Greek fraternity and sorority houses of black sister and brother hood. Highlighting what community looks like when we are united. For DaQuane Cherry always states “… they do not fear us with a left or right hook, but a man with a book” The founding houses all had the same idea when created, to unite Black people in education, community, and the arts. Cherry states this info into consideration when creating the work and incorporated a series dedicated to the Divine 9 houses (Alpha Phi Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Alpha Phi Alpha, Omega Psi Phi, Iota Phi Theta, Sigma Gamma Rho, Zeta Phi Beta, Phi Beta Sigma) in celebration of their brother and sisterhood.
He created 9 pieces showcasing them in upscale cocktail/lux attire to symbolize the foundations of black excellence. In turn he complimented the 9 pieces with 9 smaller pieces honoring them as their little disciples. This all ties into DaQuane’s motif teddy bear seen in all of the work, symbolizing keeping the inner child alive. The teddy bear is depicted with 3 primary colors which entails that with out such 3, the world would be painted only in black and white.
Artist Statement
DaQuane Cherry is a self taught artist who uses an array of mediums with a focus of his narrative as a storyteller through fantasy juxtaposed with portraits and mix medium. Cherry utilizes the imagery of the beloved Teddy Bear to evoke childlike playfulness, innocence and, love within each of his paintings.
He references the teddy bear as an escape for everyone to their inner childhood and fantasizing the ways of imagination and innovation in which a child does effortlessly. He embodies this by merging the teddy bear bold red snout and blue and yellow ears onto humanized faces. The colors represent the foundation of art as they are the primary colors and without, would leave the world black and white.
The idea is for the audience to envision a life where reality blends with imagination.
About the Artist
DaQuane Cherry (b. 1998, Elizabeth City, NC) is a Manhattan based self taught multidisciplinary artist specializing in figurative painting/Portraiture, poetry, and photography. Prior to the pandemic, Cherry’s professional focus was on his acting and modeling career. At the peak of the pandemic he redirected his focus and concentrated his interest in figurative Painting in which , pre pandemic, he considered a hobby. Here DaQuane found his creative footing and continues to strengthen his skillset.
Cherry’s artwork is rooted in emotional intellect , mental health awareness, and healing while invoking playfulness through storytelling. During his time of self taught study and finding his style, DaQuane found his motif that has become his most notable work to date, his teddy bear signature. The teddy bear represents the imagination and keeping the inner child alive. DaQuane debuted and funded his first solo Exhibition in 2020 at Blank Slate Brooklyn Studios. Cherry has followed that up with a show with Raul Avila Cafe, the Production Designer for The Met Gala (2022); Aloft Hotel, Wall Street (2022); Waco Theater Annual Art Gala (2022); Selina Chelsea Hotel (2023).
DaQuane was the winner of THE 2023 STEVE MADDEN X HARLEM FESTIVAL OF CULTURE DESIGN CHALLENGE WINNER where he designed a 3 piece limited edition wearable art capsule collection (a Denim Jacket, Combat Boot, and Belt Bag).
Cherry’s artwork has been notarized in many publication such as: Esquire Magazine, InStyle Magazine, Health Magazine, Shoutout LA, and The Gatekeepers Collective.