Adultification

Artist Jessica Bell.

Artist Statement:

Adultification is a sculptural work that examines how Black boys are often perceived as older, more responsible, and more threatening than they truly are. The piece depicts an adolescent boy engaged in a simple, innocent moment, wearing a dinosaur costume with his hood up while eating a popsicle, highlighting the contrast between childhood play and the assumptions placed upon him.

As a Black mother raising a Black son in America, this work is rooted in both love and concern. It reflects the tension between allowing a child to experience joy and imagination freely, and the reality of a society that may misinterpret those same expressions. The sculpture invites viewers to reconsider how innocence is seen, questioned, or denied, and to recognize the importance of protecting the fullness of childhood for Black boys.

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