Felandus Thames Weaves Memory and Legacy with Luminous Beaded Portraits

2 hours ago7 min read

The quiet clatter of countless plastic beads is the sound of history being pieced together in the studio of artist Felandus Thames. His practice is a profound act of reclamation, transforming hair beads—a material rich with cultural significance in the Black diaspora—into vibrant, soulful portraits that honor personal and collective memory.Each tiny, colorful vessel is placed with deliberate intention, building layered, textured presences that resonate with a quiet dignity. Thames’s meditative, time-consuming process mirrors the labor of remembrance itself, carefully preserving stories that might otherwise fade.By anchoring his work in the intimate, generational ritual of hairstyling, he connects personal identity to broader themes of heritage and belonging. The beads become a unique lexicon, allowing Thames to articulate a Black experience that is both celebratory and contemplative.His art challenges conventional hierarchies of materials, creating a powerful space for viewers to reflect on their own lineages and the everyday objects that hold profound meaning. This is a practice that posits legacy not as something monumental, but as a patient, ground-up construction, built bead by luminous bead.

#featured

#Felandus Thames

#beaded portraits

#Black Diaspora

#contemporary art

#mixed media

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