The Divine Feminine: Black and Taíno Sacred Bodies was an immersive exhibition of sculpture and painting that explored gender, race, and the representation of Black women’s bodies through the lens of the African Sacred Feminine. Rooted in research conducted in Puerto Rico, Paula wove together symbolism, natural artifacts, and ancestral traditions to honor the resilience, spirituality, and interconnectedness of women across the African diaspora in the Americas.
Exhibition Room
Smith Gallery, Grinnell College, Iowa
Untitled
Acrylic and oil pastel on Wood
96 x 48 inches
Exhale
Nsu Bra, African Fabric, cotton, and satin on ceramic
Inhale
Vinyl fabric over ceramic
Womb
Red bed sheets, ‘Nsu Bra’ textile, pink dyed fabric, gold thread
60 x 60 inches
Peacock
‘Nsu Bra’, bed sheet fabric, acrylic and vinyl, oil paint
72 x 60 inches
The Vulture
Torn Overalls, ‘Nsu Bra’ Fabric, bed sheet, and acrylic
54 x 48 inches
Vejigante III
Mixed Media (Fabric, Beads, and Acrylic)
60 x 60 inches
Altars
Altars, central to African and Taíno ceremonial rituals, serve as conduits for connection with the earth, the self, and the divine. In this exhibition, three curated altars—adorned with symbolic objects, early creative artifacts, and shells gathered from Puerto Rico’s shores—embody a lasting bond with the island’s natural beauty and spiritual essence.
