In this self portrait I draw on the name and imaginings of my great-great grandmother Anna Cleta. The little I know about her comes from vivid details shared by my grandmother. She would eat grapefruits straight off the tree, peeling them like an orange and passing the segments to her great granddaughter as they walked. I can picture the juice running down their chins.

The textured background is the main focus of this large piece, drawing the eye from one side to the other using playful pastel gradients, drips, and curves. The portrait is kept to simple line gestures putting the scars and wrinkles of the paint below on full display. A messy bun and hoops nod to the present, while the pose is inspired by a portrait of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo of her sister Cristina. The mix of past and present subjects blur the line between feeling wholly independent as modern women and owning the rich lineage of matriarchs that root our stories in shared pain, pride, and sacrifice.

Cleta Painted Like Cristina Kahlo, 2023

Acrylic on canvas

48 x 48 in