This is my signature and most recognized body of work, framing Black identity through an Afrocentric lens. In constructing the faces of my subjects, I draw inspiration from traditional West African masks, adorning the figures with Afrocentric patterns, facial markings, and textiles. These visual elements reject Eurocentric standards that once labeled Black art, hair, clothing, and cultural expression as improper or inferior. This rejection is not an attack on Europe, but a declaration of pride in my Blackness and Africanness—an insistence on self-definition.

Black identity is intentionally centered through the use of a black matte surface, challenging societal perceptions of color and value. The language and symbolism surrounding the word “black” are often associated with negativity; this work dares to reclaim it. I am daring to be Black. I am daring to be African.

Repetition within the compositions draws from the cultural practice of Aso Ebi, emphasizing unity and collective identity. Floral motifs woven throughout the garments symbolize Black perseverance—growth and beauty emerging despite histories of violence, displacement, and erasure. The clothing is constructed from intricately woven blue colored-pencil lines, influenced by my interest in cartography. These lines reference oceans as both sites of separation and connection, reflecting how Black people across the diaspora remain linked despite geographic distance.

This series centers identity, culture, and joy.