Podcast Summary: The Grand Tourist with Dan Rubinstein – Episode Featuring Khalida Rawls

Episode Title: Calida Rawles: “Once You Put a Black Figure in Water, There’s Context”
Release Date: February 26, 2025
Host: Dan Rubinstein
Guest: Khalida Rawls, Renowned Artist

1. Introduction to Khalida Rawls

Dan Rubinstein introduces Khalida Rawls as a gifted artist whose large-scale photorealistic paintings feature black individuals both submerged in and interacting with bodies of water. Her work has garnered significant acclaim for its beauty and profound resonance, culminating in her first major solo exhibition, Away with the Tides, at the Perez Art Museum in Miami. Currently represented by Lehmann Maupin Gallery in New York, Rawls' art explores themes of healing, historical trauma, and racial exclusion through the elemental symbolism of water.

Dan Rubinstein [00:22]: "Khalida Rawls envisions water as a space for black healing and reimagines the African American community beyond the stories we already know as part of the United States collective history."

2. Early Life and Artistic Beginnings

Khalida Rawls shares insights into her upbringing, describing her home life as quiet despite having an older brother. Her mother, a photographer with artistic inclinations, provided Khalida with ample art supplies, fostering her early passion for drawing. Rawls reminisces about her childhood drawings, particularly of cartoons like Garfield, which she would sell at school, highlighting her innate ability to mimic and capture the essence of her subjects.

Khalida Rawls [03:03]: "The first, like, the word that pops in my head when you ask me that is quiet."

3. Education and Challenges at Spelman and NYU

Rawls attended Spelman College in Atlanta, drawn to its vibrant community of high-achieving black women. Initially undecided between psychology, history, and English, she ultimately majored in painting, driven by a desire to push her creative boundaries. Her experience at NYU for her master's degree was fraught with challenges, including dismissive professors who questioned her focus on painting black figures and even doubted her ability to sustain a career as a black woman artist.

Khalida Rawls [14:14]: "Once you put a black figure in water, there's context."

These experiences led to a period of self-doubt and exploration outside the traditional art world, including teaching art classes and dabbling in graphic design and children's literature.

4. Artistic Style and Process

Rawls' signature hyperrealistic style blends photorealism with poetic abstraction. She meticulously photographs her subjects before translating these images onto large canvases, often depicting them in water. Her process is deeply immersive, involving extensive photo shoots where she collaborates closely with her subjects and family members to achieve the desired visual effect.

Khalida Rawls [25:39]: "If I have a factory and I could make 10 of me, I have three shows done."

Her works vary significantly in scale, ranging from intimate 12 by 9-inch pieces to expansive 12 by 9-foot canvases. The interplay between meticulous detail and abstract elements, especially in water, allows her paintings to convey both clarity and mystery.

5. Themes in Her Work: Water and Black History

A central theme in Rawls' work is the symbolic use of water to explore the black experience in America. She delves into historical contexts, such as segregation-era swimming restrictions, to highlight ongoing cultural impacts. Water serves as a metaphor for both healing and historical trauma, reflecting Rawls' desire to reclaim leisure and freedom for the black community.

Khalida Rawls [31:43]: "Once you put a black figure in water, there's context."

She connects these themes to broader historical narratives, including the Middle Passage and the enduring legacy of racial exclusion, aiming to empower through visual storytelling.

6. Recent Solo Show: "Away with the Tides"

Rawls' exhibition at the Perez Art Museum, Away with the Tides, is a homage to Overtown, a historic black neighborhood in Miami. The show features her characteristic submerged figures and explores the community's rich history and subsequent disruption by racist urban planning, such as the construction of highways that displaced local businesses and residents.

Khalida Rawls [36:59]: "I wanted to bring that community to light. I wanted you to see Overtown."

The gallery experience includes large-scale paintings and a three-channel video work in collaboration with documentarian Laura Brownson, providing a multi-dimensional narrative of Overtown's legacy and resilience.

7. Future Plans and Artistic Evolution

Looking ahead, Rawls anticipates continuing her current thematic exploration for a few more years, envisioning additional shows that expand on her water motif. She expresses a desire to diversify her subjects, including natural landscapes like sunsets and rivers, indicating a broadening of her artistic repertoire.

Khalida Rawls [45:27]: "I have some years. But then when I'm done, I'll know I'll be done and I'll push it. I'll move somewhere else."

Rawls also highlights the physical demands of her work, acknowledging that her unique approach requires significant time and effort, metaphorically wishing she could multiply herself to expedite her creative process.

8. Recognition and Contributions

Rawls' work has gained notable recognition, including a piece curated by actor Steve Martin for his show based on the film LA Story. This inclusion underscores her relevance and the impactful dialogue her art fosters within contemporary cultural conversations.

Khalida Rawls [46:43]: "He knew he had a Hockney there in that pool, and it would be a conversation itself. How you do these Cali pools?"

9. Artistic Philosophy and Impact

When asked to encapsulate her work in three words, Rawls describes her art as figurative, ethereal, and dynamic, emphasizing the tangible yet surreal quality of her paintings. Her philosophy centers on using art to challenge stereotypes, provoke thought, and celebrate black identity and community through the versatile symbol of water.

Khalida Rawls [48:16]: "I'd say figurative, ethereal, and dynamic."

10. Conclusion

Dan Rubinstein concludes the episode by acknowledging Khalida Rawls' significant contributions to the art world and the cultural conversations surrounding race and history. He encourages listeners to explore her work further and engage with The Grand Tourist through various platforms.

Notable Quotes:

• Khalida Rawls [00:00]: "Once you put a black figure in water, there's context."
• Khalida Rawls [31:43]: "Once you put a black figure in water, there's context."
• Khalida Rawls [45:27]: "I have some years. But then when I'm done, I'll know I'll be done and I'll push it. I'll move somewhere else."
• Khalida Rawls [48:16]: "I'd say figurative, ethereal, and dynamic."

Key Takeaways:

• Artistic Resilience: Rawls' journey underscores the challenges faced by black women in the art world, particularly within academic institutions, and highlights the perseverance required to carve out a meaningful and recognized career.

• Symbolism of Water: Her art uses water as a multifaceted symbol representing healing, historical trauma, and the reclamation of space and leisure for the black community.

• Cultural Preservation: Through her solo shows, Rawls seeks to preserve and illuminate overlooked black communities, fostering a deeper understanding of their histories and present-day realities.

• Community and Collaboration: Rawls emphasizes the importance of community support and collaboration, both in her artistic process and in the subjects she portrays, reflecting a broader narrative of unity and resilience.

For those inspired by Khalida Rawls' story and artistic vision, The Grand Tourist offers a compelling glimpse into the intersections of art, culture, and personal triumph. To learn more, visit The Grand Tourist's website, follow Dan Rubinstein on Instagram @danrubenstein, and tune into the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.