Portfolio
SEA GARDEN
Acrylic and silkworm cocoons on wood panel
12in x 12in
2025
This organic, otherworldly bouquet presents an array of different corals and seaweeds as living archives that are carriers of memory, nourishment, and coastal resilience. The still -life composition merges botanical and marine worlds emphasizing the creativity of Black coastal life and its relationship with water-based ecosystems.
CRAB HANDS IN DEEP WATERS
Acrylic and Raffia on Linen
48in x 36in
2026
"Crab Hands In Deep Waters" reflects the legacy of Black crab captains whose lives and labor are deeply tied to the coast. Inspired by the oral stories of Ernest L. McIntosh Sr., captured by the Georgia Black Fishermen Project, the work centers memory, tradition, and survival. I see this piece as a way of holding history with care while sharing my own story within it. Storytelling and cultural connection are central to my practice, and this work continues that commitment.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM REMEMBERS
Acrylic on Canvas
30 in x 24in
2026
This painting reflects the body as an archive, as one that stores sensation, survival, and intuition long after events have passed. In a society where we're experiencing sensory overload and inner awareness, we are recieving information waiting to be felt and integrated. What becomes possible when the body is allowed to remember safely?
WATER CARRIES WHAT WE CANNOT
Acrylic, raffia and silkworm cocoons on wood panel
12in x 12in
2025
This piece honors the long lineage of Black maritime movement and those who traveled, labored, voyaged, and held memories along the water’s edge. The raffia fibers are the tides in motion that echo the hidden Black maritime stories of Black captains, and seafarers carried across oceans. The cluster of barnacles up top are symbols of ancestral navigation, spiritual wealth, and protection. A still life of currents rather than objects, this piece speaks to oceanic rituals.
FRUITS OF MY LABOR
Acrylic on Canvas
36 in x 24in
2021
Fruits of my labor provides women of color a strong mirror reflection of their confidence, power and beauty. The woman in this place has full lips, a wide "negro" nose, and small, but bright piercing eyes. She is proud of her features, wearing her glee, and holds her head high as she goes about her day.
BALANCE
Acrylic on Canvas
36 in x 24in
2021
BALANCE tells a story of the fragile equilibrium between identity and abstraction, tradition and modernity, the tangible and the ephemeral. It's a visual poem about the complex layers that compose a person, and the artistry required to maintain one's poise in a world of constant flux. She is an ethereal figure who seems to teeter on the edge of existence, balanced precariously between form and formlessness. There's a subtle sense of movement as if she might unravel or reshape herself at any moment due to societal pressures. Yet she gives herself grace as she lives in harmony within the chaos of the world.
ROOTS IN ACTION
Acrylic on Linen
36in x 36in
2025
Roots in Action is an exploration of nourishment, resilience, and interconnectedness. The piece celebrates the abundance that flourishes when communities have equitable access to food. Each element symbolizes the hands, histories, and ecosystems that sustain us by reminding all of us that food is more than sustenance, it’s a form of justice and belonging. In a time when access is increasingly limited. Roots in Action calls for collective care and rooted solutions that feed both body and spirit
YOU TOOK THE MASK OFF, BUT DID YOU FACE IT?
Acrylic and Salt on Canvas
48in x 24in
2024
We all wear masks that are carefully constructed personas shaped by societal pressures, family expectations, and economic demands. The painting captures that raw, vulnerable moment when we finally muster the courage to strip away these facades. But the real challenge isn't just removing the mask - it's facing what lies beneath. Are we willing to confront the versions of ourselves we've hidden, to understand the fears and hopes that drove us to perform? This piece allows you to reflect on the masks we wear, the reasons we wear them, and the strength required to be truly authentic. It's a reminder that healing begins when we stop performing and start truly seeing ourselves.
YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL LIVING THING
Acrylic on Canvas
36in x 36in
2024
A visual story of a a young South African explorer wandered the natural land gathering aloe, king protea, and birds of paradise. As she sketched, the plants whispered their stories - of resilience, royalty, and freedom. Her pen danced, weaving their tales into a intricate black-and-white bouquet, capturing the spirit of her homeland's diverse flora.
FEELIN’ GOOD
Acrylic on Canvas
48in x 36in
2022
FEELIN' GOOD touches on the Black Power and Civils Rights movements of the 1960s and 1970s and the impacts on the youth. Young people wanted change that positively impacted education, values, legal enforcement, and entertainment. However, the youth also heavily acknowledged black achievements, legacies, pride, and power.
YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU
Salt, Ink + Acrylic on Canvas
24in x 48in
2024
YOUR SILENCE WILL NOT PROTECT YOU depicts a Black woman defiantly casting off the confining mask society imposes. In this pivotal moment, she breaks free from the shackles of appeasing racist ideals, boldly embracing her truth. The rawness captures her reclamation of voice, identity, and power.
I KNEW THE SEA BY ANOTHER NAME
Acrylic, Photo transfer and Raffia On Linen
48in x 36in
2025
“I Knew to Sea by Another Name” shows how Frederick Douglass’ story is closely tied to the sea and the shipyards where he worked and learned to write. It’s an ode to the often overlooked connection to Black maritime culture by capturing both the fragility and strength embedded in Douglass’ journey toward freedom. The raffia strands symbolizes the pull of the ocean which was once a barrier and a pathway, while the drawn figure is of Douglass’s formative years after the shipyards, where he learned to write and to imagine a life beyond bondage. The work also nods to his acts of befriending a freed Black sailor, who gave Douglass his sailor's certification which helped secure his escape north which copies of such certifications are collaged in the piece itself. This piece is a visual story that echoes Douglass’ transformation and the way the sea became not just a route, but a re-naming of destiny.
OCEANIC ORIGINS
Acrylic and Silkworm Cocoons on Linen
36in x 36in
2025
“Oceanic Origins" portrays dormant potential and untapped heritage of Black Americans. The delicate black ink patterns mirror ocean currents and neural pathways simultaneously, which emphasizes both external exploration and internal discovery. Just as less than 1% of the ocean depths have been mapped, this piece reflects the ongoing journey of Black American identity. There are many layers of self still emerging from historical erasure, and ancestral knowledge waiting to be reclaimed. There is a particular beauty that exists in these waters of rediscovery.
THE OYSTER KING LIVES ON
Acrylic, Salt, Oysters, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
48in x 36in
2025
"The Oyster King Lives On" honors the remarkable journey of Thomas Downing and fellow Black oystermen who transformed maritime knowledge into pathways of Freedom and entrepreneurship. The grid of actual oyster shells in the upper left corner represents both the literal foundation of their livelihood and the structured business empires they built despite societal constraints. The angled and texturized forms emphasize transformation and migration, symbolizing Downing's journey from Virginia's Chesapeake Bay to becoming New York's celebrated "Oyster King".
ENJOYMENT IS A HABIT
Acrylic on Canvas
36 in x 24in
2026
This piece reflects enjoyment as something cultivated through attention and repetition rather than chance. The figure reaches gently toward moments of beauty, symbolized by the Adinkra earring and dragonfly, without urgency or grasping. Let us view enjoyment not as a reward, but as a learned rhythm of presence woven into everyday life.
ACCESS TO WATER FOR BROWN BODIES
Acrylic, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
36in x 24in
2026
"Access to Water for Brown Bodies" looks at swimming and water as something that was never freely given, but often controlled or delayed for Black people. The hanging fibers and shell-like details reference both labor and care by echoing hair, shorelines, and things shaped by time and touch. Water appears here not just as leisure, but as a space where permission, safety, and rest had to be negotiated. As part of the Black Maritime series, this work holds water as a place of memory and resistance against restriction.
WHAT I CARRY, WHAT CARRIES ME
Acrylic on Canvas
30 in x 24in
2026
This work holds the tension between burden and support by questioning where one ends and the other begins. As a Black woman born and living on American soil, I feel this every day. We're all tethered to emotional weight, ancestral presence, and inner truth. By embracing all of it, we become held by what is carried as much as it is held by itself.
SALT-BORN CURRENCY
Acrylic on wood panel
12in x 12in
2025
An open oyster shell reveals a cluster of cowrie shells, symbolizing both hidden abundance and the historic role of cowrie shells as currency in coastal Black communities. The piece reframes still life as a site of cultural wealth and generational inheritance in Black marine culture. What's often overlooked is the quiet labor of harvesting from the sea as cowrie shells were only born from saltwater and were once the original form of currency. This altar made of oyster shells and cowrie shells is an altar to both sustenance and value.
MUNDANE BEAUTY
Acrylic and Wildflower Seeds on Canvas
48 in x 36in
2023
Mundane Beauty represents the beauty and resilience of those who are often misunderstood or overlooked. Just like wildflowers that are sometimes seen as weeds, there are incredible people out there who don't fit society's mold. They're the dreamers, the free spirits, the ones who dare to be different. In a way, these unique souls are like wildflowers “chasing the sun”- reaching for their dreams and thriving against the odds. They remind us that it's okay to stand out, to be true to ourselves, and to seek the light even in dark times. In a society that often overlooks the value of individuality, "MundaneBeauty" serves as a reminder to appreciate and celebrate the wildflowers among us. It invites us to see the world through a lens of compassion, to recognize the beauty in diversity, and to cultivate a garden where every soul has the opportunity to blossom.
BE YOURSELF
Acrylic on Canvas
36 in x 24in
2021
BE YOURSELF is a visual story of growth and self-expression. It's a representation of what it means to be rooted in simplicity while bursting with the creativity and complexity of your soul. This duality becomes the essence– a reminder that authentic self-expression often involves embracing both our fundamental nature and our most elaborate dreams and imaginings.
BEAUTIFUL IS BLACK
Acrylic on canvas
48in x 36in
2021
"BEAUTIFUL IS BLACK" evokes the Black Pride Movement of the 1960s and 1970s through its bold colors and symbols. The prominent figure of a woman with an Afro hairstyle immediately calls to mind the embrace of natural black beauty during this period. Her expressive eyes seem to gaze right through the viewer, conveying a sense of dignity and self-assurance. The bright purples, reds, and golds of her earring and skin create a dynamic, energized feeling. The inclusion of a raised Black Power fist drive home themes of Black unity, power, and celebration of heritage so central to this historical movement. Through simple yet symbolic elements, the piece captures the emotional and psychological awakening of a people now firmly declaring that “Black is Beautiful."
COMING TO FRUITION
Acrylic on canvas
48in x 36in
2023
Living life in abundance is more than just a phrase, it's a lifestyle. It means recognizing that life is full of beauty, joy and possibility. It's about embracing each day with optimism and gratitude, and being open to the abundance of blessings that life has to offer. It's about living with intention, cherishing each moment and taking action to create a life that is meaningful and fulfilling. Life in abundance is about living a life of joy and abundance, and never settling for anything less.
AS SHE SHEDS
Acrylic on canvas
48in x 36in
2023
"As She Sheds" captures the serene essence of a young Mbalantu Tribe woman, her Eembuvi braids cascading to the ground. Having completed her initiation into womanhood, she stands with closed eyes and a proud bearing. Her gaze is fixed on the tenacious Namibian flora known as the Welwitschia Mirabilis, a symbol of resilience, its leaves never shedding as the pollen cones release into the earth. This piece portrays the parallel narratives of women and nature, shedding old layers and embracing newfound strength and fortitude.
QUEEN PROTEA
Acrylic on canvas
48in x 36in
2023
"Queen Protea" encapsulates the essence of resilience and strength. Set against a vibrant yellow background, it features a serene Black woman connecting with her South African roots. Her eyes closed in contemplation as she gazes upwards at the magnificent King Protea flower. This iconic bloom serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and endurance, mirroring the strength and beauty found within both nature and the human spirit. The harmonious fusion of the woman and the Protea in this piece evokes a sense of unity and empowerment, capturing a moment of introspection and inner strength.
I’M SO PRETTY
Acrylic on Canvas
48in x 36in
2021
I'M SO PRETTY focuses on the authenticity of culture and ancestral meanings behind headwear. The headpiece is a symbol of the crown in the crown is one of the most important human aspects from a psychological viewpoint.
The crown is sacred. It is unique to each and every person. The woman you see here is from an East African tribe. She wears her headdress proudly showcasing royal blues, purples, and golds. The scale of her crown outweighs any of the negativity that she faces in her life. She wears her crown proudly as she treads forward, never looking back in her path. The scarifications on her face symbolise fertility and strength according to her tribal practices. She is not only a very confident woman, she is also loving of herself and others, nurturing in ways that no one else understands. She is authentically her.
WUNDER
Acrylic on canvas
36in x 36In
2023
WUNDER depicts a woman in the process of blossoming into herself, her true self. She is beginning to walk into her identity and understands her mission in life, regardless of how the rest of the world perceives her. In the film "Alice in Wonderland," Alice enters the Garden of Singing Flowers, where she is mistaken for a flower at first. Later, with their narrow-minded perspectives, they conclude that she is nothing more than a weed. Weeds aren't allowed in the garden, so the flowers kick Alice out. Misconceptions about others can lead to a loss of identity. In this piece, Alicia (representing Alice) wears a floral crown with each flower from the singing garden portrayed. Despite being misunderstood by society, she remains true to herself.
BENEATH THE SURFACE
Acrylic, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
48in x 24in
2025
"Beneath the Surface" explores our dependence on natural ecosystems while honoring ancestral connections to the earth. The flow of the golden raffia fibers pay homage to both aquatic plant life and cultural heritage. This particular piece evokes the historical journeys of Black seamen who navigated waterways for freedom. The layered composition invites viewers to consider what lies beneath familiar terrains and how our survival remains intertwined with these often overlooked natural foundations.
TETHERED WATERS
Acrylic and Raffia on Linen
36in x 36in
2025
"Tethered Waters" portrays the connections between environmental degradation and cultural erasure. The marine floral bouquet symbolizes the parallel struggles of oceanic ecosystems and Black American heritage—both requiring preservation, protection, and revitalization against systematic threats. We will preserve, we will revitalize.
TIDES OF LIBERATION
Acrylic, Salt, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
48in x 36in
2025
Uncovering narratives of Black whalers, sailors, and captains who shaped maritime history. This piece pays homage to the story of William T. Shorey who was a remarkable Black captain and whaler who not only navigated treacherous seas but helped others find their path to freedom. He integrated his crew during the height of Jim Crow and became respected by all creeds and races as a captain.
OCEAN AS WITNESS
Acrylic, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
48in x 24in
2025
"Ocean as Witness" represent stories passed through generations. The golden fiber strands represent ancestral wisdom while the black fibers echo depths of experience. Between them, blue waters hold sacred memories of passage and survival. The ocean is a silent witness to countless journeys. The ocean is what connects our spiritual heritages across time and distance.
JOY IS A PRACTICE
Acrylic on Canvas
36 in x 24in
2026
This painting centers joy not as a fleeting emotion but as an intentional, cultivated state. The dragonfly symbolizes transformation and lightness earned through change, while the floral forms reference tenderness and play. The figure stands in quiet delight, grounded yet open to wonder. The piece affirms joy as a radical, embodied choice, especially after endurance.
LISTENING TO WHAT WAS NEVER SAID
Acrylic on Canvas
30 in x 24in
2026
This piece explores the quiet labor of listening. Listening to the body, to ancestry, to truths that were never given language. When we listen internally, we gain patience and devotion within an environment of care, ritual, and inherited memory. As spiritual figures, we hold space for untangling what has been passed down without explanation. It's time for us to honor what we intuitively know, even when words were absent.
BECOMING VISIBLE TO MYSELF
Acrylic on Canvas
30 in x 24in
2026
Created through the physical act of painting light onto darkness, this piece mirrors the process of self-recognition. The emerging figure is not revealed all at once but slowly through presence and attention. Visibility here is internal before it is external. It takes courage to witness one's self fully.
A BEAUTIFUL MESS IS DIFFERENT THAN A MESS THAT IS BEAUTIFUL
Acrylic and Salt on canvas
48in x 36in
2024
"A Beautiful Mess is Different Than A Mess that Is Beautiful " is a figurative painting of a Black woman with a floral head. Her head adorned with African flora from the King Protea to the Lebombo Aloe to the Staplieia Giganteia pink flowers of the Cape. This painting is made of acrylic paints, table salt and Himalayan salts. This piece delves into Black spirituality, illustrating a transformative journey through a tumultuous abyss to a paradise of self-love. The textured mediums symbolize purification and resilience, embodying the strength of the Black spiritual experience.This painting is a narrative of the profound beauty that emerges from life's trials, celebrating the triumph of strength, love, and spirituality over adversity.
RESISTANT LIBERATION
Acrylic and Salt on Canvas
48 in x 24in
2024
“RESISTANT LIBERATION” is an abstraction focusing on the jagged, nonlinear journey towards freedom and peace - a winding path filled with turmoil yet remarkable resilience.
In the center of the piece, an abstracted figure actively resists the very liberation she seeks, depicted through a jagged line weighed down by a large black box on the bottom of the painting. This represents our instinct to cling to familiar pain rather than release into the unknown of radical change. Light surrounds her throughout the background showing the way beyond inner resistance and outer oppression.
BLOOM
Acrylic on Canvas
36in x 24in
2022
"BLOOM" is a metaphor of personal growth through its delicate floral imagery. Soft pastel petals in shades of blush, peach, and cream unfurl in the composition, evoking the fragility yet resilience of self-discovery. At the center, a young woman with eyes closed gently holds a flower bud still curled tightly inward. Her serene expression seems to invite the bud as well as the viewer to embrace opening up to reveal the beauty within. Tiny heart-shaped leaves offer nurturance, suggesting new understandings blossom through kindness and care. Backlit by a radiant wash of gold light, the composition conveys the warmth and hope of this transformative process. Just as the sun coaxes a bud to bloom into its fullest expression, so too can self-love guide our journey to becoming our most authentic selves. With its gentle palette and tender imagery, "BLOOM" reminds us of the beauty that unfolds when we are brave enough to turn within.
I AM, WE ARE AGAVE
Acrylic on Canvas
48in x 24in
2024
“I Am, We Are Agave” focuses on human resilience. Just as the agave pours itself into this final act, we must nurture our own spiritual well-being. This painting reminds us to honor the rhythms of our lives and embrace the preciousness of each moment, allowing our own radiance to shine brightly before its inevitable decline.
THE SALT IS SWEETER THAN THE SUGAR IS SALTY
Salt, Ink + Acrylic on Canvas
48in x 36in
2023
"The Salt is Sweeter than the Sugar is Salty" is an exploration of spiritual journeys and the imperative need for Black Diasporans to reestablish their ancestral bonds. This piece symbolizes the necessity of consistent, time-honored efforts to reconnect with one's heritage, akin to seasoning every meal with salt until it's depleted. Just as salt is integral to our bodies and tears, it serves as a healing agent for ancestral wounds, fostering a connection with our roots and with others who share this vital journey.
DUAFEDUAFEDUAFE
Acrylic and salt on canvas
48in x 24in
2024
“DUAFE DUAFE DUAFE”honors an Afro-indigenous ancestor enveloped within her natural element. Cascading Fulani braids adorned in cowrie shells frame her visage. Atop her crowned head sits a plethora of sacred Duafe combs, symbolizing the ancient rites and protective powers of womanhood passed down generations. She is both flawless daughter of nature and vessel carrying forth the whispered wisdom of ancestors - lessons of navigating through joys, sorrows, rage, and kindness. Her spirit commands respect; her femininity warrants ritual. She reminds us that grace lies in the duality of strength and softness uniquely possessed by the divine feminine.
SHR(IM)P
Acrylic, Salt, and Raffia on Linen
48in x 36in
2025
"SHR(IM)P" honors Captain Thorpe and the Black shrimpers who built maritime economies while forging paths to freedom. I researched stories of Black Shrimp captains and came across research in Georgia. Thanks to his wife that carried his story, his story now lives with us. The vibrant orange shrimp emerges boldly against textured white waters, symbolizing both sustenance and liberation. The natural raffia fibers cascade like fishing nets emphasizing the connection of ancestral knowledge to present time. The figure represents Captain Thorpe's ancestral spirit, standing dignified within the ocean's bounty that sustained generations and created economic independence where few opportunities existed.
SHORELINES OF THE SPIRIT
Acrylic, Silkworm Cocoons and Raffia on Linen
36in x 36in
2025
“Shorelines of the Spirit" focuses on the rich yet often overlooked legacy of Black maritime heroes. The textured elements portray the ocean's depths where Black captains, sailors, oystermen, and whalers made significant contributions beyond narratives of the Atlantic Slave Trade. The flowing raffia fibers symbolizes freedom found through waterways, both as routes to liberation and channels of cultural exchange. Let us celebrate how Black maritime culture has shaped global trade and created beauty through skill and connection to water across generations.
THE WISDOM IS IN THE WATER
Acrylic on canvas
2024
This piece captures the wonders of saltwater flora. This piece features delicate seagrass that sway and kelp forests that whisper their ancient secrets. There's something magical about how underwater plants move with such grace, almost like they're performing their own slow-motion ballet.