Firelei Báez, a Dominican-born, New York-based artist, is renowned for her vibrant and intricate works that explore themes of identity, diaspora, and cultural heritage. Her artistic practice encompasses paintings, drawings, and large-scale installations, characterized by exquisite detail and a vivid color palette inspired by tropical landscapes and botanical forms.
The work presented is a perfect example of how Báez's art blends elements from various sources, including Caribbean folklore, colonial history, and science fiction. Her work often features strong female characters, drawing particular inspiration from the Ciguapa, a mythical figure from Dominican folklore. Similar to her other works depicting figures in motion, her creation blurs the lines between human, animal, and plant forms. This approach suggests the fluid nature of identity and challenges predetermined stereotypes of Afro-Latina and Afro-Caribbean peoples, a powerful representations that celebrate strength and resilience.
Firelei Baez, Detail, Untitled gouache, ink and graphite on paper
637⁄8 x 447⁄8in. (162.2 x 114cm.)
Through her art, Firelei Báez not only reclaims narratives but also opens up new avenues for understanding identity in a multifaceted world. Her recent exhibition, "Sueño de la Madrugada (A Midnight's Dream)," at the South London Gallery exemplified this idea by creating an immersive experience that invited audiences into a vibrant twilight realm where themes of ecology, power, and resistance intersect. This exhibition further highlighted her ongoing exploration of cultural legacies and the transformative potential of myths as instruments of spiritual resistance.
https://onlineonly.christies.com/s/post-war-contemporary-art-online/firelei-baez-b-1981-64/232664
Main Image: Firelei Baez, Untitled gouache, ink and graphite on paper 637⁄8 x 447⁄8in. (162.2 x 114cm.) Courtesy Christie's
Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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