"Future Venus I" of "Future Venus in Two Parts", 2025. Photo by Ryan Gamma.

There is an innate familiarity that resonates with most people when they encounter chalk art. Even if they have not grown up writing on a chalkboard—the introduction of interactive white boards in the early 2000s put an end to that—many have at least doodled with chalk at some point during their childhood. It is that connection, a link to the past and the early memories chalk art stirs up that makes Chris Friday’s art so striking.

This summer, memories of Chris Friday’s childhood, drawn in chalk on archival black paper, adorn the walls of the Sarasota Art Museum (SAM) in Chris Friday: Where We Never Grow Old. The first solo museum exhibition of the ascendant Miami-based multimedia artist, Where We Never Grow Old features large scale portraits of the Black figures that surrounded Friday’s upbringing.

“They are life-sized figures on the wall in various states of napping and resting and when you get up close to them, it’s almost like you can see the figures breathing,” says Virginia Shearer, executive director of SAM. “She’s a virtuoso—the drawings are so intimate, so detailed, the lines are so fine. They’re absolutely beautiful, from the skin tone to the hair to the clothing and the gestures of the people she’s depicting, there’s obviously a great love and respect for the people in these drawings.”

Friday’s work is not limited to just portraiture, however, as Where We Never Grow Old introduces a new aspect of her artistry: ceramics. Embellishing the drawings are hand-gilded ceramic works—everything from necklaces and charm bracelets to comfort foods such as macaroni and cheese and deviled eggs—all which harken back to Friday’s childhood. Together, the drawings and ceramic pieces delve into Friday’s sense of home, in turn prompting the viewer to reflect on what home means to them.

“I think that she’s trying to give us a little bit of a window into the Black experience, especially around what is sacred to Black familial culture, by lifting up what might be stereotyped or feel mundane to others,” says Shearer. “What does home feel like? It’s a place where you can rest, where you can be with people who are like you and appreciate you for who you are. It’s very personal for her, but also incredibly generous to share that with all of us in such an exposed way.”

Chris Friday: Where We Never Grow Old, May 4-August 10, Sarasota Art Museum, 1001 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34236

"Future Venus I" of "Future Venus in Two Parts", 2025. Photo by Ryan Gamma.

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