Artist Statement
I am Dynell Bonner, also known as Skip Texan—a multidisciplinary artist working in photography, video, and collage. Based in Honolulu and originally from Houston, Texas, I use image-making as a tool to examine and elevate Black identity, particularly the presence, dignity, and emotional depth of Black women within fine art contexts.
My work is rooted in postmodern traditions but remains deeply personal. I create with the intention of evoking pride, healing, and visibility for those who rarely see themselves reflected in gallery or museum spaces. I want Black viewers to experience a sense of affirmation—whether through a quiet portrait, a layered collage, or a moving image—that honors the nuances of their lived experience.
Formally, my aesthetic is shaped by moody, monochromatic palettes, tactile layering, and the interplay between abstraction and realism. I often merge analog and digital processes to construct visuals that serve as both cultural documentation and conceptual critique. Music and fashion—especially traditional and street forms—guide the tone, rhythm, and styling of my work. These references are not decorative; they are foundational to how I center Black culture as subject, influence, and visual language.
Materially, I incorporate burned paper, incense ash, and thread into many of my pieces—methods that serve as both ritual and resistance. These interventions symbolize memory, grief, and spiritual resilience, particularly within my Blue Series and work tied to ancestral histories.
While I bring two decades of military service into my background, it is not the focal point of my practice. Rather, it informs my discipline and commitment to building a lasting body of work that contributes to the evolving canon of contemporary art. I view each image, sequence, and installation as a site of authorship—where Black subjects are neither abstracted nor peripheral, but fully present, emotionally complex, and culturally grounded.
My ambition is to present this work in institutional and academic spaces where it can engage critical dialogues around race, memory, and representation. Through layered visual storytelling and conceptually rigorous execution, I aim to create work that resonates within the art world while remaining deeply rooted in the communities that inspire it.
Artist Statement
I am Dynell Bonner, also known as Skip Texan—a multidisciplinary artist working in photography, video, and collage. Based in Honolulu and originally from Houston, Texas, I use image-making as a tool to examine and elevate Black identity, particularly the presence, dignity, and emotional depth of Black women within fine art contexts.
My work is rooted in postmodern traditions but remains deeply personal. I create with the intention of evoking pride, healing, and visibility for those who rarely see themselves reflected in gallery or museum spaces. I want Black viewers to experience a sense of affirmation—whether through a quiet portrait, a layered collage, or a moving image—that honors the nuances of their lived experience.
Formally, my aesthetic is shaped by moody, monochromatic palettes, tactile layering, and the interplay between abstraction and realism. I often merge analog and digital processes to construct visuals that serve as both cultural documentation and conceptual critique. Music and fashion—especially traditional and street forms—guide the tone, rhythm, and styling of my work. These references are not decorative; they are foundational to how I center Black culture as subject, influence, and visual language.
Materially, I incorporate burned paper, incense ash, and thread into many of my pieces—methods that serve as both ritual and resistance. These interventions symbolize memory, grief, and spiritual resilience, particularly within my Blue Series and work tied to ancestral histories.
While I bring two decades of military service into my background, it is not the focal point of my practice. Rather, it informs my discipline and commitment to building a lasting body of work that contributes to the evolving canon of contemporary art. I view each image, sequence, and installation as a site of authorship—where Black subjects are neither abstracted nor peripheral, but fully present, emotionally complex, and culturally grounded.
My ambition is to present this work in institutional and academic spaces where it can engage critical dialogues around race, memory, and representation. Through layered visual storytelling and conceptually rigorous execution, I aim to create work that resonates within the art world while remaining deeply rooted in the communities that inspire it.
Mission Statement
Skip Texan LLC is a multidisciplinary art studio and creative platform committed to centering the presence, dignity, and emotional depth of Black people—especially Black women—through fine art photography, collage, video, and sound. Founded by Dynell Bonner, also known as Skip Texan, the company uses image-making as a tool for cultural documentation, healing, and visibility.
Rooted in postmodern aesthetics and informed by lived experience, Skip Texan LLC blends analog and digital processes to create emotionally layered portraits, conceptual installations, and immersive media works. Our practice draws from music, street and traditional fashion, and oral history to tell stories that are often ignored or erased in institutional settings.
More than a studio, Skip Texan LLC is a vehicle for social commentary and cultural preservation. We aim to challenge dominant narratives, foster connection, and provide representation for communities historically left out of the gallery and museum space.