Black Madonna: Divinity (2025)

Commissioned by a private collector as a graduation gift to mark her ordination in the Black Quaker tradition.

Overview
Black Madonna: Divinity is a mixed-media collage celebrating faith, transformation, and communal care. Inspired by “Respite of the Black Madonnas” from my Moonlight series, it honors the client’s spiritual journey into ministry. Created on navy blue Canson paper, the work layers symbolic flora, ancestral evocations, and metallic elements to evoke embodied divinity.

Materials & Meaning
Using hand-painted paper, acrylic, mylar, and metallic accents, the piece centers a Black Madonna framed by sunflowers (faith), syngoniums (growth), and orchids (resilience). Copper-adorned braids reference Ujima and African spiritual traditions. Her robe—black and teal, edged in gold and mirror silver—invites reflection. A bronze ankh symbolizes life and ancestral strength.

Process
Built through deep dialogue with the client, the work reflects her spiritual beliefs and intentions.

Collaborators
Created in collaboration with the collector, now a minister, who shared personal and theological insights.

Exhibition & Collection
Privately held. Not yet publicly exhibited.

Learn More Read about the symbology of this piece here.