b. 1980 Memphis TN USA
Lives and works in Memphis TN USA
Roger Allan Cleaves creates layered, narrative-driven compositions that merge abstraction, figuration, and Afrofuturist themes. His work unfolds within Forget Me Nots Land, a self-constructed multiverse where history, mythology, and contemporary culture intertwine. Through painting, drawing, and mixed media, Cleaves constructs surreal landscapes that explore identity, migration, and collective memory. His practice is influenced by folklore, science fiction, and social history, blending symbolic imagery with bold color and intricate textures.
Cleaves earned his BFA from the University of Memphis and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with additional study at Yale’s Summer Painting Program. His work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the United States and is held in institutional collections. Through complex visual storytelling, Cleaves reimagines the past while speculating on the future, creating immersive worlds that challenge perceptions of time, place, and identity.
