PAINTING the DIASPORA
Papay Solomon’s portraits tell untold stories of immigrants and refugees
When Papay Solomon transferred to Arizona State University two years ago, he painted realistic portraits that were, in his words, “without substance.” He knew that he wanted to paint something with more voice, but he wasn’t sure what, until an assignment from a professor launched a journey of self-discovery.
The assignment was for students to put their own spin on an Old Master’s painting. Solomon immediately thought of Jan van Eyck’s Portrait of a Man in a Red Turban, which is often thought to be a self-portrait of the artist. “A turban is a very African