Harmonia Rosales Redux

Hello Meltingpot readers,

I originally wrote this post about Harmonia Rosales last March. It continues to be one of my most popular posts, so, I wanted to check in to see what Harmonia was up to with her amazing career. Turns out, Harmonia’s gorgeous paintings are now available on clothing. But not just any clothing. They are adorning the beautiful creations of Fe Noel, a boutique brand out of Brooklyn. I can’t think of a more perfect pairing. So now, instead of hanging a Harmonia Rosales painting on your wall, you can hang one on your body. Keep track of Harmonia Rosales. She’s making boss moves all around, and I, for one, am loving to see her rise!

Meet Harmonia

I’m not an art critic, but I know what I like. I know when a painting moves me and, dear readers, I have been moved. Yesterday, while scrolling through my Facebook feed, I stumbled across a video highlighting the work of Cuban-American artist, Harmonia Rosales. I’ve never seen Rosales’ work before, but now I cannot get it out of my head.

Rosales has a series of paintings where she recreates classic works of art but inserts Black women in the place of white men (and sometimes women). Her paintings are realistic, lush and colorful. She not only deftly imitates the masters, but improves them, in my humble opinion. Even more impressive, Rosales, 33, is a self-taught artist, who drew inspiration from her mother, a children’s book author and illustrator. And not for nothing, even her name is dope. Harmonia. You gotta love it.

Courting Controversy

Of course, when somebody recreates Michelangelo’s classic painting, The Creation of Adam, and replaces both God and Adam with Black women, there’s going to be some controversy. Yes, there were haters and trolls who couldn’t stomach the idea of Blackness and creation existing in harmony, but Rosales isn’t letting the petty slow down her mission. “Replacing the white male figures — the most represented — with people I believe have been the least represented can begin to recondition our minds to accept new concepts of human value,” she said in a Buzzfeed article. “If I can touch even a small group of people and empower them through the power of art, then I’ve succeeded in helping to change the way we see the world,” she added.

Art As Activism

On her website, Rosales, a mother of two, writes the following. “Art is my weapon in the ongoing battle against indifference and inaction. It forms the basis of resistance.” I, for one, will continue to watch and root for Harmonia Rosales’ continuing success as she begins to gain more and more recognition for her work.

Representation matters. Images matter. Seeing people of color and women where white men have always ruled is indeed a powerful weapon for change.

What do you think of Rosales’ paintings? Do you have a favorite? I’m partial to the Birth of Oshun and would love to have a copy hanging in my dining room. Wouldn’t you say Rosales’ work epitomizes the #CelebrateDiversity2019 challenge? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

Peace!

(BTW the featured images above are captured from Harmonia’s instagram page. Follow her @honeiee.)