The world has been consistently somber as of late, meaning it is more critical than ever to consciously seek joy in the fissures of life, and that is exactly what I did for this show. After asking myself and others “what simple pleasure(s) in life do you enjoy most?”, I created a list of the top answers, which I used to influence this body of work.

Through bold color, texture and composition, these pieces capture the beauty of seemingly mundane moments and objects. The focus of each painting is the delight itself; each act of joy is depicted in a more realistic style than the abstract background, representing something solid amidst the chaos. I played with different mediums to express different energies, depending on the painting’s theme.

The goal was to highlight the little things we already do on a regular basis and how those acts make us feel. Moments such as these are the gems of life. Once discovered, we should savor, cherish and keep them sacred. They may be minute, but their worth is substantial.

See Amiah Mims’ The Minutiae in the Harrison Center’s Speck Gallery through the month of May.