Detroit City Wire

A native of Detroit's west side, Davariz Broaden turned to painting four years ago during the pandemic as a creative outlet. While studying fashion at Kent State University, he shifted from fabric to canvas, using brushstrokes instead of design sketches. Initially focusing on celebrity fan art, he soon began creating more personal works.

"I started doing fan art—musicians or anything I liked—replicating images but adding my own spin. I'd post them on social media, and people liked them, which was cool. But it ran its course because it was just fan art—I was making what I knew people would like. Then, one day, I picked up two canvases I'd planned to use for screen printing and painted something much more personal. From there, everything changed. It was really about taking a risk," Davariz explained.

Davariz's upbringing in a close-knit community heavily influences his artwork. He recalls playing basketball at the Adams Butzel Recreation Center and spending time with family who lived nearby.

"I would go there every single day. That was huge for my development—being social, being part of something. And that's what I try to represent in my work," he said.

Sports play a significant role in his artistic expression, particularly in challenging stereotypes about Black boyhood and masculinity through depictions of joy and community involvement.

"That's why, in my work, I always find myself coming back to sports," Davariz noted when discussing the universal language of sports.

His piece "Go Getter/Goal Getter (2024)" exemplifies this theme by portraying Black boys on a soccer pitch as a unified team despite mismatched shirts.

"My titles are often a play on words, but they connect to real life—about achieving whatever goal you set," he shared about his approach to naming his works.

Davariz cites Henry Taylor as an influence: "My favorite artist is Henry Taylor... His pieces are intimate and striking."

He emphasized the importance of process over product: "For me, I've learned that process is everything—sometimes even more important than the end result."

Reflecting on changes in Detroit due to gentrification and commercialization of art spaces, Davariz sees the artist's role as essential in maintaining narratives centered around Black Detroit communities.

"The role of the artist is just to continue to create. That's our voice... These pieces are meant to spark dialogue and evoke feeling," he stated regarding artists' responsibilities amid urban changes.

Davariz remains committed not only to creation but also to ensuring that his work has an impact by engaging with broader conversations about community identity and resilience.

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