rest, play, repeat.
Ariel Dannielle // Alexis Pye

Sheet Cake Gallery presents a new exhibition, rest, play, repeat. featuring Ariel Dannielle (Atlanta, GA) and Alexis Pye (Houston, TX). Dannielle and Pye portray Black lives and experiences that move beyond the burdens of history and struggle. They celebrate moments of pleasure and leisure, and the family and friends that help us through what the world throws at us.

Dannielle’s vibrant and playful paintings capture her desire for closeness and togetherness with loved ones, fueled by a post-pandemic shift that many of us have felt to be more intentional about how and with whom we spend our time. Working from photos of her and her friends going out to dinner, having a picnic or playing UNO, Dannielle’s work is a visual journal of her life, observations, and experiences. These snapshots are often framed in such a way that allow the viewer to feel they are part of the party. Through her use of bold colors, rhinestones and glitter, Dannielle creates a hyperfeminine, joyful perspective of Black existence and womanhood.

Pye addresses the power of Black leisure in her practice, depicting herself, friends and family in often lush, natural settings that recall French plein air painting traditions. Her recent work feels particularly meditative with a focus on solitary figures, drawing from a journey of introspection and self-acceptance. In painting these quiet scenes, Pye navigates personal challenges and a turbulent world by choosing joy, and finding solace and grounding in nature and those dear to her. She adds to the complex surfaces of her paintings with collage and embroidery, imbuing the work with a sense of wonder and magic.