Oya of the Shell
Oya of the Shell
Oil on canvas, 22 × 18 in | 55.9 × 45.7 cm with walnut frame included.
Oya of the Shell
Inspired by Oya, the Yoruba Orisha of wind, storms, and transformation, Oya of the Shell imagines feminine strength emerging from the natural world that is both strong and soft. Rising from the shark’s eye shell gathered along Florida’s Coast, the figure is a meeting place between coastal ecology and spiritual symbolism.
The painting reflects on the power of enduring intense storms that reshape shorelines, which can be both disruptive and necessary, and protecting the fragility of it all. The shell serves to remind us that time, pressure, and perseverance create a hardened exterior, while the interior is sensitive to the elements. Honoring both the living coast and the cultural traditions that inspire it, Oya of the Shell invites viewers to embrace change after storms and recognize that despite strong exteriors, we can still be vulnerable to the elements.