"Persephone & Desdemona" is an oil painting based on a 1977 photograph of a Sudanese bride and her bridesmaid. An under painting of phthalo blue shifts the whites and lighter tones toward blue while gi the darker colors and figures' Rich complexions an indigo cast. The title draws from the tragic stories Persephone and Desdemona, whose experiences of romance, trauma, and violence informed the emo atmosphere I imagined for the two figures.

The use of blue also connects the work to the cultural and spiritual significance of indigo across the Af diaspora. Inspired in part by Daughters of the Dust and Gullah Geechee traditions, I considered indigc symbol of resilience, memory, healing, and the histories of Black people shaped by slavery and coloni:

Blue holds an emotional spectrum as well, moving between sadness, melanchol, sorrow, and calm. thi histories and emotions come together in the painting as a shared resonance across Black and African experiences.

PERSEPHONE & DESDEMONA, 2026

16 x 20 in

Oil on canvas