'Blackbird Fly' Art Exhibition ( April 6 - May 22, 2026)

"Blackbird Fly" is open to the public through May 22, and closed on weekends and university holidays.

Originally debuting in Europe in 2022, “Blackbird Fly'' is an exploration into how artist Antoinette Cauley’s relocation from Phoenix, Arizona (USA) to Berlin, Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced and reshaped her views on systemic racism, her home country and her overall identity as a biracial Black woman. Created during the course of two years, this series delves into childhood trauma and psychological triggers relating to abandonment, survival and hyper independence in youth and their connection to time and place. 

Referencing The Beatles' “Blackbird,” a song about a group of Black American women during the civil rights era, this body of work speaks to the long term effects of trauma (both generationally and individually) and the systemic barriers it creates for members of the Black American community specifically. Through the images of young Black girls and women covered in tattoos along with bright city landscapes, this work outwardly correlates the Black childhood experience with the consequences of living in a society riddled with systemic racism and a history of extreme violence against the people of the global majority.

By referencing Black youth in combination with Black hood feminism, this series also explores the common social tropes that exist within the Black community; specifically, the single parent household of Black children. 65% of Black children in America live in a one parent household and more commonly stay with their mothers. As a result, this often leads to hyper independence and self sufficiency in children within our communities. This work looks to reference this cultural phenomenon with the intention of raising awareness about very layered issues that stem from hundreds of years of oppression, slavery and violent injustices against Black Americans.

Biography

International artist Antoinette Cauley was born in Phoenix, Arizona (U.S.A.) and draws her inspiration from the grittiness and beauty within her place of birth. Her work is heavily influenced by Black American hood culture with a feminist undertone and an overall focus of Black empowerment. Visually, she combines the dynamism of Black American culture with powerful punches of vibrant color and deep, emotionally driven messages. Cauley attended Mesa Community College where she studied Fine Art with an emphasis in painting. During this time she held a two year apprenticeship with nationally renowned American oil painter Chris Saper who taught her the ins and outs of the fine art industry. 

Along with her unique and distinguishable paintings, Cauley is most known for her nine stories tall mural of Civil Rights activist, James Baldwin in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. Cauley has won several awards for her works including first place at the Artlink 19th Annual Juried Exhibition in 2019. Along with her awards, Cauley has been featured on various television and print publications including PBS, NPR, JAVA Magazine (cover), Forbes and was named one of Phoenix Magazine’s “Great 48: 48 Most Influential people in the state of Arizona” in 2019.

Cauley recently spent three years in Berlin, Germany to complete an artist residency as well as launch her international career. While she found great success in Germany, ultimately she felt that her life’s greatest impact would be in her home, Phoenix, Arizona. Cauley is now based in Arizona and paints from her studio in Mesa.

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