Malaika Ross (she/her) is a Caribbean American visual artist, breast cancer survivor and advocate whose work centers healing, visibility and creative support for those navigating a breast cancer diagnosis. Drawing from her background in soil microbiology and her lived experience as a survivor, she explores the connections between the natural world, the body and collective strength.

Raised on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Malaika’s practice is deeply rooted in the traditions of plant-based healing passed down by the women in her family. Her artwork bridges science and lived experience, soil and self, using painting and storytelling to explore how growth and transformation emerge from the unseen.

After her diagnosis in 2023, Malaika began The Visibility Project and Novel Bodies, Novel Landscapes—creative initiatives that center Black women’s experiences of breast cancer through art, dialogue and public engagement. She is also developing Cancer Care Cards for Black Women, an illustrated 42-card deck designed to support reflection, healing and care for survivors, scheduled for publication in October 2026.

Through her work and advocacy, Malaika is committed to amplifying the voices of breast cancer survivors and cultivating spaces where art, healing and community meet to foster belonging.