There is a tenacious papaya tree outside my kitchen window that inspired this work. Looking at this tree, I wanted to know what type of person she would be and this painting was the result. 

Papaya Harvest

Living in the Caribbean on a US territory, where I'm unable to vote for the US president, I'm surrounded by echoes of Colonialism. Amidst the backdrop of this island life, alongside incredibly talented Caribbean artists, I chose to paint Selah. She embodies my exploration and meditation on these themes, standing as a modern, queenly figure in her own right. Selah is a reflection of the intersection between history and contemporary identity.

Selah

Deities Series. Ophelia is my homage to the Pre-Raphaelites who fueled my love of art in my teenage years. Inspired by _Ophelia_ and _Hylas and the Nymphs_ by John William Waterhouse as well as the tragic _Ophelia_ by John Everett Millais. The Pre-Raphaelites depicted women as sirens or damsels in distress. Ophelia, after the loss of her father and having her heart broken and abandoned is called “mad”. Society’s expectations of women silenced and dismissed her so she silenced herself by drowning (all while singing and surrounded by symbolic flowers). 

My Ophelia, in her modern chemise, is also surrounded by symbolic flowers. She surrenders to the water and claims her feminine power. 

Ophelia

Antheia is from my Deities Series. In Greek mythology, Antheia was the goddess of vegetation and especially revered around springs and low lying wetlands.

Antheia

This work was inspired by the El Yunque rainforest and ancient Taino goddess, Guabancex. Living in Puerto Rico and having been through many hurricanes, I have experienced the power of the eyewall. I was drawn to the story of Guabancex, who represents chao. If she is not appeased, she joins together with gods and goddesses to create a powerful hurricane

Guabancex

Deities Series. This is my creation of a very particular hibiscus flower deity. It lives in a pot near my son’s school and is a very delicate pink bloom on fragile branches. It’s hot and dry out there on the sidewalk so sometime this flower is a little wilted, but it perseveres.

Add

Marni Mutrux

Opportunities

For Artists

ArtConnect

Support