"It's Okay to Cry" is a collaborative project created for the Visual Design class at the University of Miami, where we presented installations for the Perez Art Museum. Inspired by the artist Devan Shimoyama, particularly after seeing his barbershop piece at the Perez, I designed this installation. Shimoyama, a contemporary African-American and Queer artist, often highlights vulnerability in men through his vibrant art style, which frequently incorporates glitter and rhinestones into his paintings.
His work and messages motivated me to address hyper-masculinity through art, aiming to dismantle it. "It's Okay to Cry" serves as a statement that vulnerability is acceptable for everyone. However, the message is particularly aimed at men, who are often discouraged from expressing vulnerability. This project was my proposal for the Perez Art Museum assignment in our class.