Kephira Davis
The journey from childhood to adulthood is filled with both rapid change and great nuance. In my work, I explore the dynamics of familial experiences and the idea of growing up, maturing, and feeling the slow, bittersweet “slipping away” from family as we get older. As I am currently in this transitional period from girlhood to young woman, I ponder the experiences of others in my family. From my childhood memories to stories I have grown up hearing, the need to share these narratives and changes that I notice as time goes on comes naturally. In this way, I preserve my family narrative while writing my own.
Kephira Davis always knew she wanted to be an artist. Growing up in Greenville, SC, she spent afternoons drawing Disney characters and hosting tea parties for her older sisters. Davis’s childhood memories and familial relationships have heavily influenced her work. She is currently exploring themes of gender, lineage, and memory, as she researches the lives of her ancestors, sharing the stories she has grown up hearing. Kephira closely examines her place within her family and how the passage of time influences each phase of life. In 2023, Kephira received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Lander University with a concentration in 2D studio. She continues to develop her interest in her family history, art history, curatorial gallery practices, and teaching. Kephira believes that art enriches our lives and aims to share that with those in her community. Kephira is a Visual Arts instructor in the ARMES program and a current Brandon Fellow at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts.