Tyrel De Bique
Tyrel De Bique (b.1982)
Visual Artist - Syracuse, NY
Contemporary Narrative Expressionist examining Caribbean identity, aspiration, labor and cultural memory.
Signature/Recurring Themes
aspiration
performance
labor
cultural symbolism
value systems
dignity
memory
Using acrylic, chalk pastel, gold leaf, and textured surfaces, I build pieces that invite both a physical reaction and a deeper internal conversation.
Artist Statement
My practice is really about figuring out who I am in real time. I see identity as something you build, question, and redefine over and over—not something fixed.
I work mostly in acrylic, layering in chalk pastel, gold leaf, and textured elements that add a slight bit of elevation to the canvas.
Surfaces should feel intentional but not overly polished—there should be friction there.
Scale matters to me.
I'm focusing on working large because I want the painting to feel like a presence in the room, not just something decorative. The texture, the matte finish, the raised forms—they’re all part of that experience.
The work also examines ideas of aspiration, labor, mythology, and social identity through a distinctly Caribbean lens.
I’m not trying to hand viewers a neat answer. I’m really trying to build a body of work that feels alive, layered, and still becoming—just like I am.