In his paintings for his upcoming exhibition, “Essence and Style: The Afro Centric Woman,” artist Wardell Picquet uses gold reflective paint to amplify the strength and power of African-American women. This idea is illustrated in two striking portraits titled “Majestic No. 6” and “Matriarch No. 6”.

Of “Majestic No. 6,” which depicts a young, confident woman with her arms crossed while gazing at the viewer, the artist said, “I wanted to create something that could be expressed strong visually. Gold represents royalty, and this painting celebrates the majesty of African-American women.”

Regarding “Matriarch No. 6,” Picquet took a slightly different angle with the look and appearance of the more mature female. “I was going for a more severe look, but the gold reflective paint still gives her a sense of glow.”

Both paintings are among 24 works by Picquet that are featured in “Essence and Style: The Afro Centric Woman.” The exhibition opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, January 21 at Bihl Haus Arts, 2803 Fredericksburg Road.

Picquet said the title of his exhibition further explains the focus of these specific works. “I’m talking about what makes that woman her unique self and the style in how she moves,” he said. “It’s about women being strong and powerful despite the challenges of the world. She’s the African-American woman celebrating her African culture and heritage.”

Picquet’s work is reflected by his education and personal influences at Xavier University of Louisiana. “I was a Black teenager being taught by Black instructors, entering a field where the percentage of Black people had been falling drastically for years. My instructors didn’t just teach art. They taught life,” he said.

He credits two teachers there who influenced his approach to creating art: The late John T. Scott is responsible for his strong background in design, composition, drawing, printmaking “and my ongoing love affair with the female human figure,” Picquet notes. The late Charles Graves was his instructor in graphic design.

“I was subjected to a mélange of input,” Picquet said. “Instead of having one area of concentration, I ended up with three. My focused curriculum consisted of drawing, printmaking and graphic design. I was taught that drawing was the basis for the structure of all art. If you could draw, you could learn to master any art form.”

Picquet’s move, or rather evacuation, from his native New Orleans to San Antonio in 2005 was a result of Hurricane Katrina. But he is grateful to have ended up here. “A friend and I took jobs as substitute teachers. We thought our stay here was only temporary,” he recalled. “I decided by day 3 I wasn’t leaving. The people of San Antonio welcomed us with open arms and great generosity.”

About the Artist

In New Orleans, Picquet was a fine artist, art magazine publisher, graphic designer, elementary art teacher and high school graphics instructor. Picquet, along with two partners in New Orleans, established and developed “REDDOT, a Visual Arts Magazine” in 2001. He spent five years prior to Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans Public Schools system teaching art to grades Pre-K to 6 and special ed and graphic design to high schoolers.

In San Antonio, Picquet has worked in the art sector with StoneMetal Press Printmaking Center, the Carver Community Cultural Center, SAVA (San Antonio Visual Artists), SAEAS (San Antonio Ethnic Arts Society), Msanii Afro Centric Artist Collective, Gevers Street Studio, Art at the Jalapeno, The Art of Four, the McNay Art Museum, SAAACAM (San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum), the Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce, Bihl Haus Arts and Inspire Fine Art Community Center. He also spent 10 years as a full-time graphic design instructor at Sanford Brown College - San Antonio.