KENYA DAVIS Honeycomb Collective | Mixed media | 2021

“For proving ‘There’s strength in numbers...^ look no further than the ingenuity of honey bees. Inside a beehive exists a mass of
hexagonal prismatic wax cells that collectively make up the honeycomb. It is the hexagonal structure that provides exceptionally
high mechanical strength and efficiency through light weight and minimal materials. Hexagonal designs/composites have been
incorporated into seemingly endless applications, including LED technology, the automotive industry, aerospace technology, and in
packing materials; such as those that have been upcycled in my mixed-media piece Honeycomb Collective.

The white-washed tone and rough texture of the canvas is reminiscent of birch-like trees. Nestled within the multi-layered surface
is the striking focal point of the durable honeycomb. The hexagonal grid shape of each cell can be seen repeated throughout the
picture plane; in the produce netting, and again in the dried lotus pods. I liken each cell of the honeycomb to each home that makes
up my neighborhood. Although the houses are similar, each home is a distinct representation of families of differing shapes, sizes,
and colors. Just as with a productive colony of busy honey bees, great care must be taken to preserve the nexus of transformative
activity that takes place within our bustling neighborhoods to perpetuate the collective legacy of strength and hope.”
-Kenya Davis

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Kenya Davis grew up on the west side and attended Columbus City Schools. After graduating from
the Columbus College of Art and Design, she decided to focus on art education and received a Master’s Degree from The Ohio
State University. For over twenty years, Davis has been teaching, inspiring and influencing young minds, and exhibiting student
artwork throughout the city. Outside the classroom, she has taken on artistic projects from illustration and graphic design, to
jewelry design and privately commissioned artworks. She is known for taking practical objects like string, shells, and cardboard,
and incorporating them into vibrant compositions that emphasize color, pattern, and texture. She has participated in numerous
shows throughout central Ohio, as well as nationally.