sota original canvas

"sota" is a painting studying the resilience and pain endured by black women in toxic environments,
acrylic on canvas by artist Kadeitra Wells. The lines between fantasy and reality are blurred, and animals in the environment reflect the confusion and power struggle occurring. The black woman sits shoulder-deep in the boggy swamp, disassociating and overgrown by her environment. Bright poisonous tree frogs adorn her and are preyed upon by herons, with snakes intertwining and constricting them. In the upper left corner, a crow emerges from the heron's mouth, and frogs are perched atop the head nonsensically, introducing lunacy. Spider lillies grow from the subject's head. White spider lillies represent rebirth and the red insinuate death, leaving a decision to be made. In a chaotic environment commanding one to kill or be killed, the black woman is aloof and resilient, allowing the environment to push but not break her spirit.

• original hand painted acrylic on canvas
• measures 16x20 inches
• wood frame with canvas wrapped and stapled
• signed and dated in the back