esteban whiteside

is a self-taught painter whose work is based on the intersectionality of street art and politics. A native of Asheville, North Carolina, he began painting as an act of love, which then led to him dedicating more time and research into painting, with an interest in abstraction. Having always been inspired by outspoken artists, after seeing the death of Michael Brown, he felt he could no longer create work that didn’t address social issues, and began developing an artist narrative stemming from circumstances affecting the Black community. It was at this pivotal point that his inspiration shifted from abstract expressionism and artists like Romare Bearden, to what he calls “concrete oppressionism”, focusing solely on creating work containing a direct, political message, leaving little room for interpretation. He eventually relocated to Washington, D.C., where he began showing his paintings just outside of his neighborhood. The polarizing reactions in the feedback he got from passers-by motivated him to continue producing. With the overt nature of his work’s messaging, Whiteside says, “I want the right people to love it, and if you feel guilty that’s probably how you’re supposed to feel about it.”

more work by esteban