Nocturne for Black Boys in Blue

Medium: Mixed media (archival print, silkscreen, embroidery, and gem embellishment)
Dimension: 22 x 30 inches
Year: 2026

Photography by David Gary Llyod

Nocturne for Black Boys in Blue draws from the idea of a nocturne—a musical composition inspired by the night. Like a quiet song played after dark, the work creates a calm but powerful atmosphere. Deep blues and layered shadows suggest a night sky, a dream space, a moment of stillness.

Flowers and vines move across the surface like gentle writing, holding stories and names. Embroidery and small gem details catch the light like stars or seeds, reminding us that even in darkness, growth continues.

Here, night is not danger but refuge. The darkness becomes a soft cover that allows vulnerability. The figure under the foliage is held within this space, supported rather than exposed.

The title honors Black boys and young men as worthy of quiet attention. Instead of action or struggle, the focus is on stillness. In this nocturne, Blue becomes more than a color—it becomes mood, memory, and a place where presence can breathe.