Theadis Reagins was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Cleveland with his mom,

Angela Reagins and sister, Bobbi Reagins. After graduating from Cleveland School of

The Arts in 2022, He now attends Cleveland Institute of Art studying painting and

printmaking, expecting a BFA in spring 2026. His paintings and prints explore antiquity,

historical narratives, and faith. Theadis serves as the chair of SIE’ 79, the Student

Independent Exhibition at CIA.

My work is in response to the representation of black iconography and its associations

historically and contemporary. I use the figure consistently to house the themes and

ideas in the work. This figure is at times a substantial and identifiable person or it is a

manifestation of the antique. While using paint and printmaking methods, I am

able to depict multi-layered ideas and manipulate time through intermingling symbology

and codes. In some paintings I use colors that might suggest a limited palette with

dominating earth tones, and others more mystique and vibrant. I think it is important that

we remain curious and ponder on the question marks left in history. With my work I think

I can explore the limits of representation and construct a visual language that plays in between

intellectualism and ignorance, one that falls in and out of reality.