"Upward Expression"

Recognize the mother and her baby, not as two separate beings, but as one divine reflection of God’s purposeful craft. Surrounded by nature, adding life and rooting the scene in something spiritual. Black women have had our intrinsic femininity stripped away and demonized by society, and I wanted to confront that mindset by depicting our maternal beauty, our power as creators, and our eternal connection to nature. 

Greens and yellows frame the piece, blending into the background and weaving into the colors of the mother’s dress. A white cloak draped across her arms symbolizes the innocence and purity women carry from childhood. On her cloak, two birds kiss, a symbol of connection and duality in her birth. Pink flowers adorn the surroundings, pulling us back to girlhood and the joy of being “pink.”

The painting came together in a calm rhythm. I began with the figure of a confident woman, and as the work guided me, she transformed into a powerful mother. The piece evolved just as women do in that transition. Stretch marks on her belly remind the viewer that change always comes, but that it can be beautiful, even when misunderstood. 

For me, this work was a beginning. It marked the first time I understood my art style and the kind of message I wanted to carry forward. I realized I wasn’t making art for one type of person; I was making it for life itself. With this piece, I decided that, like mothers, I am choosing to create for creation’s sake. What feels most vulnerable about this work is how it reveals my fascination with love. I have what I call a healthy obsession with the way love exists in all corners of life. Here, I chose to explore it in a historically unconventional way by openly honoring pregnant women. 

I hope mothers who see this work feel seen, and that children of mothers feel wanted. I want people to remember that every one of us began as an innocent being. Protected, cherished, and purposefully created to be compatible with life. This painting belongs in spaces of growth and opportunity, places where people come to seek renewal. You might find yourself in the colors, or in the birds, or in the baby itself. Wherever the eye lands, I hope it calls you back to creation.

Prints coming soon...