Charleston Reporter

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department has announced the appointment of Shayn Green as Artist-in-Residence (AIR) for its Pilot Residency Program, which will run from August to October 2024. The AIR role involves serving as a visual art ambassador for the North Charleston community. During her residency, Green will create new work in the 270 sq. ft. AIR Studio located within the Park Circle Community Building and collaborate with the Cultural Arts Department to offer artistic engagement opportunities for local citizens.

Green was selected from a pool of 22 artists across seven South Carolina cities who applied for this position. Her vibrant and exaggerated portraiture draws on her experiences as a black and queer woman, incorporating features, bodies, and culture from her Geechee family and other BIPOC communities. Using drawing, painting, sculpting, and sewing techniques, she creates pieces that promote diversity and highlight black beauty. "I was so excited when I heard that I would be the first Artist-in-Residence for the North Charleston community," Green said. "I look forward to creating art pieces that highlight the black and Geechee natives of the Lowcountry."

A graduate of Charleston County School of the Arts in North Charleston, Green earned a BA in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina in 2019. She specializes in portraiture, literary illustrations, and graphic design, using color to enhance her work's tone. Her “Big Nose Baddies” series aims to connect with and uplift other black and brown individuals. "Growing up I did not see a lot of artwork showcasing black and brown people with features like mine," Green explained. "The artwork that I did see was centered around black pain and hardship... When creating this art style, I decided to make art that is more fun, colorful, and maybe a little magical for all the Big Nose Baddies out there." More about her work can be found at www.artbyshayn.com.

Currently, a selection of Green’s paintings is on display in common areas of the Park Circle Community Building at 4800 Park Circle in North Charleston. Additional works will be added throughout her residency period leading up to a full exhibition expected at its conclusion at the end of October. A free public reception will be held then; meanwhile, visitors are welcome to view displayed works during regular public hours: Monday-Friday from 9 am-5 pm.

Further information about the City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department’s AIR program can be found on their website under Arts & Culture.