Novel Bodies, Novel Landscapes

My work reimagines the Black female form beyond the confines of history, expectation, and erasure. Rooted in Afrofuturism, Novel Bodies, Novel Landscapes is a series of paintings that center Black female breast cancer survivors whose bodies have been radically transformed by surgical treatment. In a world where 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and where Black women face the highest mortality rates yet remain largely invisible in art, I seek to disrupt this absence. Through my work, I place them firmly within landscapes of power, beauty, and infinite possibility.

In these imagined worlds, Black women roam freely—unburdened by imposed ideals of femininity and perfection. Their forms, informed by real, “imperfect” bodies, exist unapologetically within surreal environments populated by novel botanical species. These plants, both real and speculative, serve as symbols of resilience, healing, and adaptation. The figures in this series are not merely subjects; they are leaders, visionaries, and revolutionaries. Each woman plays a vital role in her community, whether as a healer, guide, or protector.

You can learn more about paintings in The Visibility Project by following my Substack.