Artist: Desi Swoope

Title: "Praises of the Sun"

Size: h: 60" w: 48" (rolled unstretched)

Medium: Mixed Media, Textile on Canvas

Condition: Excellent

Date: 2024

Signature: Unsigned

Provenance: Direct from Artist

Desi Swoope (b.1998, St Lucie County, Florida)

Destyni "Desi" Swoope born to a Puerto Rican-American mother and a Bahamian, African-American father, was raised in Port St. Lucie, Florida. As a child with artistic inclinations, she found solace in creating, though the absence of prominent examples left her uncertain of the possibilities in the arts. Wrestling with identity while navigating a path for herself, Desi's aspirations in the realm of art felt unattainable. The craftsmanship of her grandmother, a master of various artistic disciplines like sewing, painting, and building, ignited Desi's creative spark. This familial influence laid foundation for Desi's eventual pursuit of a career in fine arts, as well as the longing to preserve heritage and culture.

In 2017, Desi embarked on a journey by cultivating a technique that serves as a personal language of expression. Through lively narratives, portraits, and vibrant landscapes, Desi's art has emerged as a powerful vehicle for her voice. Currently residing in Miami, Florida, Desi is focusing on themes of heritage, culture, and the preservation of deeply rooted aspects within the diaspora, she is forging a path for herself and others who share similar narratives of passionately understanding and affirming identity. The goal of the work is to tell stories that encapsulate the essence of Afro-Latinx and Caribbean descent. Desi's work fosters dialogue through her compelling use of mix media and textile choices.