Reginald Sylvester II in his new show “Painter’s Refuge: A Way of Life,” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Charlotte, North Carolina. ©Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography. Courtesy of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

Reginald Sylvester II, A War Within the Soul vs the Flesh, 2019. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, Transgression, 2019. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, The Soul Told Tales of a Past Once Lived, 2019. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, Untitled, 2022. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Installation view, Reginald Sylvester II, “Painter’s Refuge: A Way of Life,” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Charlotte, North Carolina. ©Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography. Courtesy of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

Reginald Sylvester II, Swing Low, 2020. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, 400 Yrs, 2020. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, Bondage III, 2020. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, detail of Bondage III, 2020. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Installation view, Reginald Sylvester II, “Painter’s Refuge: A Way of Life,” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Charlotte, North Carolina. ©Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography. Courtesy of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

Reginald Sylvester II, detail of Four Corners, 2021. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, Misery, 2021. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, detail of Misery, 2021. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Installation view, Reginald Sylvester II, “Painter’s Refuge: A Way of Life,” at the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, Charlotte, North Carolina. ©Tyrus Ortega Gaines Photography. Courtesy of the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture.

Reginald Sylvester II, Offering III, 2021. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.

Reginald Sylvester II, Offering IV, 2021. © Reginald Sylvester II. Image courtesy the artist and Maximillian William, London.