Interview

Written By Adelé Kotzé

Marguerite Copeland

Marguerite Copeland, a Philadelphia native, finds solace and empowerment in her acrylic paintings, drawing inspiration from her journey of healing and resilience. Her vibrant artwork, primarily utilizing acrylic paint and gold leaf, serves as a powerful reflection of her experiences and her determination to be expressive despite adversity. Through her pieces, Copeland amplifies the importance of reconnection to one's identity and joy, addressing societal and personal struggles with authenticity and strength. Copeland's artistic journey, marked by publications in Black Art Magazine and exhibitions across global art hubs like London and Venice, embodies a bold declaration of self-expression and empowerment, rejecting societal stigmas around mental health and embracing her creativity as a means of healing. As she continues to evolve as an artist, Copeland's goal is to connect with her audience on a deeper level, fostering dialogue and reflection through her art.

(written by AGI Fine Art team)

 

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I'm a contemporary artist and nonprofit professional based in New York City. My artist journey fully began 4 years ago when I decided to reacquaint myself with art as a form of healing. I've always had a passion for art and it proved to be the very outlet I needed to navigate that tumultuous time. I was prompted to return to art after a shift in my professional interests and experiencing major family betrayals. It was a very layered and complicated time. I grew up in a very toxic family structure that resulted in me having to permanently remove myself from the immediate family. I was raised by my mother’s sister(aunt) and her then husband(uncle) from the time I was 6 years old. The goal was that they would raise me and my brother as their own, seeing as my mother was not able to provide or care for us at the time. They also had a child of their own that was just born when me and my older brother went to live with them. Unfortunately, my brother and I were not treated as their own but instead like a burden or inconvenience. That all came to a head a few years ago when I had to take a major step to secure my brother's safety. My aunt has always been quite evil to us and her husband was never much of any help to us. The real betrayal came when I realized that my cousin, their daughter was also in on the neglect and abuse towards me and my brother. It’s one thing to think that you might have one person in your corner to support you but to know that actually no one is in your corner and that they are in fact actively plotting against you, is another level of betrayal. My older brother had a learning disability so my aunt was his power of attorney. Turns out she was stealing from him and financially abusive towards him for some time.

As someone who works in education, I’m a mandated reporter. I took the step to get her removed from his life as she was clearly unfit and abusing her power. Once that was set into motion, I knew she would once again turn her attacks towards me. And she did. She sent threatening emails, letters, made phone calls to people trying to slander me, frame me etc. She did exactly what I expected her to do. As one can imagine, the mental burden this situation created for me was quite heavy. But I did not let up. I used my art and therapy to help center me and remind me of the importance of fighting for people who can not fight for themselves and doing the right thing even when it means you’ll be standing alone in the process. I learned that my purpose in life is to show others that just because things have been done in a particular way for a long time, doesn’t mean they can’t change it. My life, while it was filled with various levels of trauma, I still managed to fight to be my own person. I knew I was different, unique and saw the world from a completely different perspective. I know for a fact I am the only person in my immediate family who has truly taken their own path. I’m proud of the person I am and how I’ve been able to navigate my life experiences. My art is a reflection of my determination to be expressive while those closest to me have tried to silence me.”

What inspires you?

“Knowing that there is so much more to experience and achieve. I've always challenged myself to envision and create more intricate and bolder paintings. It's really important to strive for that next level in your art because that is how you become more polished and experienced. The goal is always to grow and be a more advanced version of yourself. I love when you can see the growth and levels of experience in the artwork.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“I draw on my own personal experiences and amplify it to showcase the importance of reconnection to who you are as an individual, centering and joy. The use of vibrant colors shows the life that still exists in us, even in darkness, and how we need to do more and show more of what others are trying to suppress in us.”

How would you describe your work?

“Much of my work incorporates African American people as the muse for the artwork.”

Which artists influence you most?

“I would have to say, Bisa Butler, Mickalene Thomas and Tamara Nathalie Madden. All three of these artists were able to create their own unique form of art. They took art forms to a new level by working and creating outside the bounds. Their artworks show the vibrancy and cultural significance of the Black Diasporic experience. My goal is to get my art to the space where I’ve truly landed on and carve out my own form of art. Much like these brilliant artists.”

“I draw on my own personal experiences and amplify it to showcase the importance of reconnection to who you are as an individual, centering and joy.”

What is your creative process like?

“When I first started creating, I would use inspiration from photos I took over the years to guide the process. Music was always included. I would put my headphones on, blast the saddest of songs and paint. This was a very trauma filled part of my life so the feelings were heavy and present. I was always surprised by the fact that my art was never very ominous considering how much I was experiencing at the time. The finished pieces were very vibrant, positive and clean. But I think that speaks to me as a person. Even when I’m experiencing the most stressful of times, I tend to focus on the solution, positive etc. Granted, when I look at my paintings I feel sadness because I know the true meaning behind them and what I was feeling when I painted them. The process of using music is still very much the case except the songs are a mix of different genres: neo soul, soca, Tibetan singing bowls, hip hop, pop, gospel etc. Music allows me to block out the world for a good 3-4 hours a day and simply paint. I cherish the time and space to be able to do that. Currently, I've been doing more visualizing and immediate sketch work. It helps me to get the ideas out of my mind and onto paper then canvas. I like this process because it challenges me to bring my thoughts to life.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“An artist's role is to reflect the times but how they choose to do it is entirely up to them. Artists have a unique talent to create everlasting impact. The evolution of art has proven that art is important and needed for every generation. It will continue to adapt to the times and engage people.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“I have two upcoming exhibitions: Digital Exhibition, Art on Loop Seoul, Seoul, South Korea (2025) and Digital Exhibition, Art on Loop Toronto, Toronto, Canada (2024). My recent exhibition was Summer City Idyll, Agora Gallery New York, New York in 2024.”

 
Adelé Kotzé
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