Demetri Burke Paints Identity, Culture, and Memory Through Layers of Abstraction and Realism
PHOTO: Artist Demetri Burke in his Atlanta studio, surrounded by works in progress that explore identity, memory, and the poetics of Black life. Photo by Thalia Butts.
Exploring Ghosts, Desire, and the Power of Visual Storytelling
Demetri Burke discusses his artistic evolution, the influence of Atlanta and Georgia State University, and how mixed media, memory, and cultural identity shape his compelling visual narratives and painterly voice.
Demetri Burke embodies the kind of bold, nuanced storytelling that challenges, heals, and transforms. An Atlanta-based painter with a magnetic voice and a masterful hand, Burke’s work is an evocative dialogue between past and present—melding realism with abstraction, portraiture with montage, and memory with metaphor. His layered canvases don’t just capture moments; they excavate identities, honor heritage, and reimagine culture with striking clarity and emotional depth.
From national solo exhibitions and high-profile commissions to inclusion in prominent art publications and fellowships, Burke’s trajectory is nothing short of compelling. What sets his practice apart, though, is not just his technical skill but the way he treats the canvas like a living archive—where oil, charcoal, and found images converge to amplify the quiet power of personal and collective history.
In this issue, WOWwART is proud to spotlight Burke’s vision and voice. His reflections on artistic process, identity, and the influence of Atlanta’s red clay ground this interview in a raw honesty that speaks to the artist’s evolving, searching spirit. We invite you to explore the journey of an artist who continues to shape not only the visual language of contemporary art, but the very way we understand the art of becoming.
Burke’s work is visionary, emotionally resonant, and intellectually rich—a vibrant fusion of technique, truth, vulnerability, and cultural reverence.
How has your experience at Georgia State University influenced your artistic style and approach?
Georgia State opened me up to thinking conceptually about my artwork in ways I hadn’t before. The campus encouraged me to look for resources around me and to be creative with circumstances instead of seeing them as limitations. Ultimately, what made you a good artist was not the cost of materials or how skilled you were in a medium, but were your ideas valuable, was what you had to say interesting, and what conversations could your art amplify in the world.
“Georgia State opened me up to thinking conceptually about my artwork in ways I hadn’t before.” – Demetri Burke
Can you share what drew you to use mixed media, like charcoal, oil paint, and found images, in your exploration of identity and culture?
Lately, I’ve been thinking about the nurture vs nature aspect of what becomes an artist’s practice. My first introduction into art was mainly through anime and comic books which isn’t reflected in any of my public work but it’s still much of the language I use to ideate and conceptualize. As I got older, I found myself influenced by an art-based education that advocated for traditional mediums and put a lot of significance on the Western canon, so subsequently I developed a practice that included painting realistically. Like almost every queer person I know I got drawn into the archive through found imagery. Right now I question which influences were happenstance and which might have been meant to be. Without a motivation to go into a particular path, I am wondering where that “next” is, and if that direction leads forwards or back, or comes to a complete stop and digs.
Being featured in the AXA Art Prize Juried Exhibition is a significant accomplishment; how has this experience shaped your career and future goals?
AXA was one of my initial entry points to having my own work known in New York inner circles and established lifelong connections. It definitely motivated me to continue to define my career through challenging events, i.e. the pandemic that was being birthed around the same time. The reception and confidence from AXA led to the pursuit of more opportunities and the push for further narratives, namely the Mint Leap Year residency based in Atlanta, GA, which gave me my first solo exhibition, titled And Then we Heard the Thunder, an exploration on ghosts and desire.
Your work blends abstraction, montage, and realism. How do you balance these elements in your creative process to convey your intended narratives?
Like most artists, whatever a piece says to me I listen. Is a whisper best conveyed in abstraction? Is truth halted when delivered in realism?
How do themes of identity and culture influence the choices you make in terms of materials, subjects, and compositions?
I’ve tended to draw upon everyday iconography and jewelry to define elements in my work. How does an earring tell a story about a person? What can a logo transform into once juxtaposed by another subject?
What role does Atlanta, your current home base, play in inspiring or informing your artwork?
Atlanta provides inspiration every single day as an artist. I hold my paint brush with Georgia red clay underneath my fingernails.
