O P E N
S T O R A G E

REGINALD O'NEAL

b.1992, United States

It Never Fails, 2021

Oil on canvas
20 x 16 in.

Courtesy of Spinello Projects

Reginald O’Neal’s emotional oil paintings portray narrative scenes from his personal and collective experiences of growing up in the public housing projects of Overtown, a historically Black neighborhood in Miami.

Inspired by the world around him, O’Neal’s figurative still life canvas paintings are imbued with loving memories. He uses soft brushstrokes, deep shadows and a somber color palette to reflect on the complexities of the Black experience, communicating multiple layers of meaning while evoking a sense of beauty, loss and tenderness. Based on original autobiographical photos, these illustrated stories from everyday life in an urban Black neighborhood give viewers an intimate glimpse into a marginalized community.