Adrienne

I’m offering a summer session cyanotype class at Virginia Commonwealth University, May 18 - June 5. Open to all current VCU students. Last call to register! :) Description below! P.s. I’m very open to teaching workshops and hosting private lessons in NYC and Richmond, VA. Hit me up! This 3-credit studio is an introduction to cyanotype printmaking and utilizing the hands-on, sunlight-activated photographic process in an expanded capacity, blending digital and analog techniques. The course will delve into the medium’s historical background and explore its potential as a contemporary graphic tool. Students will learn how to print photographs, photograms, drawings, and digital graphics on paper and fabric. By the end, students will gain experience experimenting with materials, compositions, and concepts to aid their artistic and/or design practice. Poster + graphics by yours truly :)

Hi! My name is Adrienne Bennett (she/they), I’m an artist and designer who splits time between Richmond, VA, and NYC. 🖤👼🏿 Taking over the BZF Instagram to give you a sneak peek of what I’ll have at my table on May 9! A bit about me: I’m interested in the transatlantic circulation of Black visual vernacular in the afterlife of the Middle Passage, triangulating West Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. I’ve been making small publications and cyanotype printed artworks as an extension of this research. I’m looking forward to sharing them with you! 🌀 Image Descriptions Slide 1: A video of a hand submerging a cyanotype printed piece of paper in water that reads, “Black Zine Fair Instagram Takeover by Adrienne Bennett,” and features a small photo portrait. Slide 2: “My name is Adrienne. I’m an artist and designer based in Richmond, VA, and N.Y.C. Here’s a sneak peek of what I’ll have at my table on May 9.”

Slide 3: “Caribbean Blue Adinkra Sampler: A one-page zine and fold-out poster, featuring scans of cyanotype reproductions of Ghanaian Adinkra textile symbols. It comes with a prayer-card-sized symbols glossary explaining the proverbial meaning for each.”

Slide 4: “As Above So Below (working towards a black visual vernacular): A monochromatic book of photos sprinkled with cut-outs that have lineage or connection to Black life. Breeze-block-shaped pages between images are meant to serve as gateways to the next.” Slide 5: “I sell the sunlight to support the substance: Cyanotype-printed (and machine washable) cotton t-shirts with text informed by postcards that abolitionist Sojourner Truth sold, which included the motto, 'I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance,' to fund her cause,” written in white above an image of a blue and white long sleeve shirt. Slide 6: “Notes: Costume and Dress, Domestic Articles, and Craft. A visual index of twenty-six images referencing these topics in 19th-century Victorian Jamaica.” Slide 7: “& cyanotype posters of collages! I’m looking forward to trading zines and chatting!”

🖤 My work is now on view through April 25 at The Anderson Gallery (in Richmond, VA) as part of VCU’s first year MFA show, “Late Breaking.” I’ve made some large cyanotype prints on linen dedicated to the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion in Jamaica and have a research reading table set up for visitors to come and spend time with what I’ve been reading. I’ve been researching 19th century Victorian Jamaica in relation to a core thesis of learning about the transatlantic circulation of Black visual vernacular in the afterlife of the Middle Passage, triangulating West Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. I’ve found a lot of symbols, materials, text, and motifs of resistance which I’ve been able to fold into my work. Appearing left to right in image 1: “Una Marson’s R E Q U I E M and the Cotton Tree Assembly Site (of the Morant Bay Rebellion led by Paul Bogel, Jamaica, 1865) cyanotype on linen “Cold Iron” Vinyl on glass “Memorial For the Grave of Eighty Brave Near Morant Bay and a Song for the After-life Angels (19th century Afro-Jamaican Slave Song) cyanotype on linen Image 2, framed within the cyanotype printed curtains above the reading table is: “Sankofa Butterfly w/ Breeze Block Wings” Cyanotype on cotton The blue square artist book on the table is: “As Above So Below” (A monochromatic photo book sprinkled with cut-outs that have lineage or connection to Black life.) I could say so much more but I’ve definitely written enough. Thank you to 🖤db🖤, my lovely first year Graphic Design cohort, and wonderful teachers 🖤👼🏿 My third eye is permanently open these days. Exhibition poster by Mati <3

Last day to view long sleeve “I sell the sunlight to support the substance” t-shirts and sand-printed camo pants in Warehouse Market New York Edition! 100 + participants + performances today, see the QR code in slide 2! Honestly this show, market, and extravaganza is way 2 cool. I rarely share or externalize production hours and labor costs. You’ll be able to see all of that tagged on each garment. I’d say most things I make take between 5-10 hours with prep and thats modest when you actually consider chemical mixing or include mishaps…. If you wanted something and didn’t see your size order it through adriennebennett.xyz! — Warehouse Market New York City July 18-20, 2025 In collaboration with Bungee Space and Lunch Hour Warehouse Market New York Edition features a special focus on production/labor hours, production/labor costs, and retail pricing, encouraging transparency and conversation around value, sustainability, and independent practice through the daily presentations and public programming. Sunday, July 20 hours: 12:00-6:00 pm Location Sheerly Touch-Ya Warehouse 74-12 88th Street, Glendale, NY 11385 The homies @p34r.w34r are in it too, check out their lovely items 🖤🖤 Ty endlessly to @shisanwu_llc @sheerlytouchya @amsterdam.warehouse @dotuonglinh @anemte @3standardstoppage Identity design by bring your own book, reworked by @bungee.space @fleurbleueeeee Warehouse Market is sponsored by @stimuleringsfonds and @the_naf_official

1. “Protection heart,” cyanotype monoprint on paper, affixed with sunlight, 2025. (Love that u can see tape marks and finger prints when up close) I’m always conjuring (respectfully, lol) and often referencing Ghanaian Adinkra textile symbols, abstracting them gently while keeping their form (im obsessed with their migration to the Caribbean and beyond + their multifaceted use for pan-African sentiments). what a resilient lexicon! Cyanotype blue is always Caribbean blue and when I used sand or sunlight to print I’m nodding to Jamaica 🇯🇲 I do really feel like any wrought-iron-informed drawing I do is a spiritual working through. When printed on clothing it’s meant to be armor or protection. It’s also the ideal vehicle of exhibition…meant to be seen in the world not just a room. I’m also often thinking about Minnie Evans’s work and occasionally I keep folded drawings in my bag for good luck….

documentation of my “I sell the sunlight to support the substance” shirts and sand printed jeans + painters pants. All made with cyanotype, all produced using sunlight as the key ingredient 🖤 The text is informed by postcards that abolitionist Sojourner Truth sold, which included the motto “I sell the Shadow to Support the Substance,” to fund her cause. Photos by me with a Ricoh gr III 😈…wish I owned one… You can purchase these items on adriennebennett.xyz 🤭 to support my printmaking and research practice. Link where that link always beeeeeeee. 🐝 I’ve updated the shop to include a short sleeve version for summer, photo forthcoming!!!!! (website also made by me3333). If there’s a pair of 100% natural fiber pants in your closet that you want printed on, I’m happy to coordinate an exchange or you can mail them to me (all these details are on the site). I love upcycling + a closet refresh! A big thank you to my models and lovely artists @voidth0t @fancycatvisual2000 . That day was so fun 🤩 Sojourner Truth postcard photo courtesy of @metmuseum ’s online archive. *toes were cut off in the making of this post, I don’t have the energy to resize* **u want something else I’ve made in the past? DM me**

Led a cyanotype workshop with friends out of my home on 6/29 at the request of db. The outcome is too lovely to not share 🖤😭🫂. Ty @anayvelyse , @speciescide , @alaynareum , j, julia, and db for working collaboratively to execute all of the wonderful ideas. We used printed transparencies, paper cutouts, crochet samples, and meshy fabric to create these gems on a couple of exposure units.💎 Wish I had more process documentation but alas, we were caught up in the liveness.

Tabling at the LA Art Book Fair with THE COOLEST @___nico___fontana___ x @anti_bone.xyz !!! I’ve got cyanotype prints, printed clothing, zines of adinkra symbols, bumper stickers….+ hee haws. There’s some really amazing stuff here! I’m in awe of what people are publishing + producing :) Special xx to @c.s.0.l for the “don’t ask don’t tell” bumper sticker idea, genius. #laabf

Selling cyanotype printed clothing @pioneerworks Press Play fair until 7pm :) It’s been a lovely weekend here 🫶🏿 !!!! I’m tabling with @anti_bone.xyz next to the School for Poetic Computation, come say hi!! Image 7-8 is front and back of some new shirts I made, they’ve sold out!!! The girls that get it…

⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆Hey⋆°.☾⋆.ೃ࿔*:⋆ Now available to order on my website! “I sell the sunlight to support the substance” cyanotype printed long sleeves in slim fit and unisex options! Each garment is a unique ¹⁄₁ piece, made to order. Sizing options range from xxs-4x. 💫 The text is informed by cards that abolitionist Sojourner Truth sold, which included the motto “I Sell the Shadow to Support the Substance,” to fund her cause. ✌️🏿🫶🏿Shipping is available 🫶🏿✌️🏿 To order please visit my website’s “shop” page (#linkinpark in bio)🖤 I built this website brick by brick…its not finished, but if u think its cute—let me know🥲 More photos of my inventory and process to come! Plz share if the spirit moves you🫶🏿 #diva

1-3. Bo wearing the pants I cyanotyped for her w/ sand. (August) 4-5. Pants I printed for Camila in 2022 6. Tiny crab shell 7. sand on bo’s pants mid print/exposure 8. Rushing water on sand 9. Kira 10. tiny snowman playing a tiny leaf violin with a tiny twig bow 11. documentation of the borrowmentation of sand @ Brighton 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤

wait but i don’t know if her parents are going to like this look… #misunderstoodtheassignment