This piece was inspired by the emotional weight and beauty of Juneteenth. For me, it’s about more than just freedom…it’s about the faith it took to believe freedom was possible, even when everything around said otherwise.
The muddy waters in the painting represent the struggles and pain that African Americans had to walk through. It wasn’t clean, it wasn’t easy…but they kept moving. Faith was their anchor. They believed in a future they couldn’t yet see.
Juneteenth reminds me of that same spirit. It’s about celebrating how far they come, while honoring the truth of what they endured. This piece is a visual reflection of that journey, through pain, through chains, through muddy waters…toward something greater. Freedom. Wholeness. And the power of never letting go of hope.
