In his paintings, Dominic Chambers reflects on the social stigma and challenges attributed to the Black body, depicting Black men in moments of meditation and contemplation within invented scenarios. Chambers creates paintings that reference literary narratives, various mythologies, and African American history. Specifically, working through colour field paintings, his current work is invested in exploring moments of contemplation and meditation through reading and leisure. His work is founded upon the relationship between reality and fantasy. At this illusory boundary, Chambers negotiates ideas of magical realism by presenting Black figures as they delve into literature and contemplation within imagined landscapes. These subtle, leisurely moments not only celebrate each subject’s visionary power but further negate pervasive and toxic clichés, instead focusing on Black talent, creativity and mysticism.

Chambers received his BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2016 and is an MFA candidate at the Yale University School of Art in 2019. His works have been exhibited widely, and include group exhibitions such as Now Figuration, Portrait Society Gallery, Milwaukee (2017), Post Mode 2.0, John Fonda Gallery, Baltimore (2016); Open Studios, The Pitch Project Gallery, Milwaukee (2015) and Deconstructing the Local, MIAD Contemporary Gallery, Milwaukee (2014).