Charlie Kendall, I've been here before, 2024, Acrylic paint, 10 x 10 x 1 in

Charlie Kendall is an interdisciplinary artist working in illustration, graphic design, and art direction, based in Baltimore, Maryland. Their practice is rooted in exploration, moving between real and surreal worlds to examine how imagery can shape perception, emotion, and meaning. Through visual storytelling, Kendall investigates connections between form, symbol, and lived experience.

This particular work centers on birds as both literal subjects and metaphorical figures. Birds possess a remarkable ability to exist simultaneously in reality and symbolism. They gather en masse for protection and community, demonstrating collective strength while maintaining individual agency. They can appear weightless in flight yet grounded when necessary, embodying adaptability and balance. Their movements are intentional and efficient, reflecting simplicity in their needs and clarity in their purpose.

By drawing on these qualities, the work reflects on themes of unity, transformation, freedom, and shared resilience, inviting viewers to consider how community and individuality coexist in both natural and imaginative realms.