{"id":382180,"date":"2026-08-27T02:12:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T02:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/382180\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T02:12:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T02:12:15","slug":"milton-mizell-explores-black-identity-through-marquetry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/382180\/","title":{"rendered":"Milton Mizell explores Black identity through marquetry"},"content":{"rendered":"

A clean slate awaiting inspiration and creativity to become something beautiful and meaningful. This is how marquetry artist Milton Mizell describes \u201cBlackquetry,\u201d his work that is on view through Sept. 30 at CLAUG Creative Studio in Miami Shores.<\/p>\n

Marquetry is defined as the covering of the surface of a board or piece of furniture, either entirely or in part, with wooden veneers in a skillfully applied design or picture. In the hands of Mizell, it becomes Blackquetry, Black identity expressed through the craft of marquetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a visual language shaped from wood, memory, and cultural truth. The name reflects that union,\u201d says Mizell. \u201cIt honors resilience, beauty, and ancestral storytelling while expanding the tradition into a space where Blackness is centered and celebrated.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Miami-based Miami-based artist Milton Mizell brings together marquetry, graphic design, and woodworking in his art. (Photo by Leesa Richards) <\/p>\n

Mizell, who was born and raised in Miami, didn\u2019t start his artistic career in woodworking. He studied fine art and graphic design and has been working as a graphic artist for many years. However, as a child, he used to watch his father \u2014 a jack of all trades \u2014 working on wood, fixing and building all kinds of things.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat planted the seed. I returned to woodworking as an adult when burnout pushed me back toward making physical objects. Wood has been a constant thread, even before marquetry,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The artist\u2019s journey has not been without challenges. In the past few years, aphasia has taken a toll on his communication skills, limiting his ability to speak, read and write. \u201cHowever,\u201d he said, \u201cI continue to communicate powerfully through my art, demonstrating that creativity often speaks louder than words and that my intelligence, artistic vision, and passion for storytelling remain as strong as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

The artist describes marquetry as moderately difficult, requiring patience, precision, and a steady hand.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cThe \u201cThe Man in the Fedora Hat\u201d by Milton Mizell. (Photo by Gregory Reed) <\/p>\n

\u201cI admired marquetry for years,\u201d he says, \u201cbut only discovered my path into it when I bought a diode laser in 2023 and joined a weekly Zoom group. After a lifetime of drawing, I finally found a way to merge drawing with wood \u2014 everything clicked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among Mizell\u2019s woodworks are handcrafted boxes, keepsake boxes, jewelry boxes but most of all portraits whose subjects come from his community, his culture, and the stories that move him.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome portraits depict specific individuals whose presence or emotion I want to preserve; others represent broader aspects of Black identity, resilience, and humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

The process begins with simplifying an image, almost like creating a painter\u2019s palette. Mizell prints a full\u2011size poster, cuts every shape with the diode laser, a computer-controlled machine that cuts or engraves material with a concentrated beam of light, and assembles hundreds or thousands of pieces with tape.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I create a three\u2011layer sandwich: veneer, MDF, veneer backer, pressed in a vacuum bag,\u201d he explains. \u201cSanding is delicate because veneers vary in thickness, and dark dust can stain lighter woods. I dye my own veneers, so color penetrates deeply enough to survive sanding. Step by step, the face comes into view,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cEbony \u201cEbony Portrait\u201d by Milton Mizell. (Photo by Leesa Richards) <\/p>\n

Donnamarie Baptiste, a Miami-based arts producer and cultural strategist who consulted on \u201cBlackquetry\u201d and wrote its curatorial statement, sees the works as both painting and sculpture.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you see it, it\u2019s so masterfully done. It\u2019s almost hard to tell whether you\u2019re looking at a painting or something else. Once you understand the process and see how it\u2019s put together, you realize it\u2019s quite sculpture in its essence. It\u2019s sort of like a painting made of wood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since Mizell is a graphic artist by trade, technology plays a central role in his marquetry. In fact, it is foundational, as Mizell puts it. \u201cAdobe Illustrator has been part of my life for over 30 years, and CNC and laser tools allow me to translate digital design into cuttable sections. Technology maps the structure; craft gives it soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

For this exhibition, Mizell will show a total of 21 new original pieces and prints. His declared goal is to celebrate resilience, beauty, identity, and humanity \u2014 the aspects of Black life that often go unseen. \u201cBlackquetry gives voice to the unspoken,\u201d says the artist.<\/p>\n

CLAUG\u2019s resident artist and studio owner Carlos Andrade recalls that Mizell, after receiving a grant from the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs was looking for a space for a solo exhibition. \u201cHe was having a hard time finding one. One day, he was walking by, and we connected right away,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

About Mizell\u2019s work, Andrade says, \u201cI think it\u2019s very powerful. When you\u2019re standing in front of one of the portraits, you see the amount of details, and I think that makes an impression on people. You begin to understand the process, how tedious it is, and also the talent that Milton has as an artist.\u201d<\/p>\n

But beyond showcasing Mizell\u2019s craftsmanship, the exhibition also tells the story of his personal journey.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cDream \u201cDream Big\u201d by Milton Mizell. (Photo by Gregory Reed) <\/p>\n

\u201cObviously,\u201d Andrade says, \u201cwe want to showcase his work, but we also want to showcase his journey. Because of his condition, one of the best ways for him to communicate and connect with people is through his art,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

The artist is also the curator of Blackquetry. Curating his own work, Mizell says that means shaping how viewers encounter the pieces \u2014 guiding the rhythm, the scale, and the emotional arc. \u201cIt\u2019s an opportunity to frame the craft, the stories, and the cultural context with intention. It\u2019s both vulnerable and empowering: I\u2019m presenting not just the art, but the journey behind it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

As a curator, he selected works that show the evolution of his voice, pieces that merge tradition with technology, and craft with culture. Each portrait was chosen for its grain, tone, and emotional resonance. \u201cThe arrangement highlights the layered construction, the narrative depth, and the diversity of identities represented. The goal was to create an experience that feels both intimate and monumental,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cBreak \u201cBreak of Dawn\u201d by Milton Mizell. (Photo by Leesa Richards) <\/p>\n

When people walk out of Blackquetry, especially Black viewers, Mizell hopes they feel seen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to carry a sense of pride and connection, knowing these portraits honor the beauty and humanity within our community. I hope they leave feeling uplifted, affirmed, and part of the narrative.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you go:<\/p>\n

WHAT: \u201cBlackquetry: My Fusion of Marquetry and the Black Experience\u201d<\/p>\n

WHERE: CLAUG Creative Studio, 9703 NE 2nd Ave, Miami Shores<\/p>\n

WHEN: Noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday. Through Wednesday, Sept. 30.<\/p>\n

COST: Free (RSVP<\/a> for reception)<\/p>\n

INFORMATION: claug.art<\/a> or (645) 243-0333<\/p>\n

ArtburstMiami.com<\/a> is a nonprofit media source for the arts featuring fresh and original stories by writers dedicated to theater, dance, visual arts, film, music, and more. Don\u2019t miss a story at www.artburstmiami.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A clean slate awaiting inspiration and creativity to become something beautiful and meaningful. This is how marquetry artist…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":382181,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[225,227,226],"class_list":["post-382180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-hialeah","tag-hialeah","tag-hialeah-headlines","tag-hialeah-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/382181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}