Rituals Unveils Devan Shimoyama’s Ornate Universe as a Modern Interpretation of the Sacred
Title: Devan Shimoyama: Rituals — A Dazzling Dialogue Between Identity and Devotion
“Devan Shimoyama: Rituals,” currently on view at the Ulrich Museum of Art in Wichita, Kansas, through June 14, invites audiences into a compelling world of fantasy, spirituality, and self-discovery. This vibrant solo exhibition highlights the work of contemporary American artist Devan Shimoyama, whose visually mesmerizing mixed-media art creates a space for imagining Black queer identity in gloriously ornate and transformative ways.
Devan Shimoyama is widely known for his use of unconventional materials—sequins, glitter, jewels, fabric, feathers, and neon hues—that merge the aesthetics of drag culture, fashion, and African-American traditions with spiritual and allegorical narratives. Through this unique approach, Shimoyama constructs visual environments that function like sacred altars, immersing viewers in a new kind of devotional space charged with beauty, resilience, and introspection.
Creating a Contemporary Iconography
Curated by Jo Reinert, “Rituals” repositions Shimoyama’s artworks as spiritually resonant, contemporary devotional objects. The exhibition draws intentional parallels with historical religious art, such as Byzantine icons, Renaissance chapel paintings, and Baroque altarpieces. Much like these centuries-old sacred works, Shimoyama’s compositions use symbolic repetition, dramatic poses, and layered iconography to foster contemplation and emotional response.
In contrasting and conversing with these traditions, Shimoyama reclaims the rooted customs of visual devotion and reworks them into a new language—one that honors Black and queer representation while engaging universal themes of vulnerability, empowerment, and transformation. His dreamlike landscapes and richly adorned figures challenge perceptions and beckon audiences to reflect on the spiritual and symbolic power of everyday rituals.
Exhibition Highlights: From Barbershops to Tarot
“Rituals” brings together work from several of Shimoyama’s thought-provoking series that span nearly a decade of creative innovation:
– Tarot Series (2020–ongoing): These pieces reimagine the age-old mystical card system through Shimoyama’s unique lens, embracing personal mythology, spiritual archetypes, and transformation.
– Barbershop Series (2018–ongoing): In this body of work, Shimoyama explores the barbershop as a sacred cultural space and site of communal masculinity and vulnerability within Black communities. The series questions and expands traditional notions of masculinity through tender, emotional self-portraits.
– Drag Self-Portraits (2022): Highlighting Shimoyama’s ongoing engagement with performance and identity, these portraits celebrate drag as a ritualistic and artistic practice.
– Serpent Portraits (2016–ongoing): These works incorporate snakes and other symbols to invoke themes of rebirth, temptation, and magical transformation, often with a subversive twist.
– Stuttered Portraits (2023–ongoing): In this recent series, Shimoyama experiments with fragmentation and repetition, visualizing the tension and rhythm of self-expression and interruption.
– Shh… (2019–ongoing): This series foregrounds text and literature, integrating visual elements of books and script to create a symbolic reading list—an altar of intellectual and cultural influence.
A Sacred Viewing Experience
More than just a visual feast, “Rituals” positions the gallery space itself as a sanctuary—a place for searching, healing, and reflection. The emotive power of Shimoyama’s compositions urges viewers to consider the intersections of faith, identity, ritual, and queer existence. His art becomes a site for reclaiming beauty and emotional depth, often denied to historically marginalized identities.
The exhibition is accompanied by a robust catalog featuring creative responses from writers and scholars including Manuel Betancourt, Jason B. Crawford, Vernon Jordan III, and others. These contributions offer poetic, critical, and personal reflections that deepen the interpretive experience and connect Shimoyama’s rich visuality to broader cultural dialogues.
Visit the Ulrich Museum of Art
Devan Shimoyama: Rituals is on view through June 14 at the Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University. The museum welcomes visitors from 11am to 5pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, and offers extended hours on Thursdays from 11am to 8pm.
To experience Shimoyama’s mesmerizing universe and delve into a transformative exploration of ritual, identity, and beauty, plan your visit now. For more information, go to ulrich.wichita.edu.
This exhibition not only showcases the stunning artistry of Devan Shimoyama but also redefines the role of contemporary visual art as sacred, political, and profoundly human.