Title: Venus
Size: 49 × 69 cm (painting) | 72 × 102 cm (framed)
Medium: Oil on linen, framed
Year: 2025
 
A Contemporary Rebirth of a Timeless Icon
Venus has been celebrated in art for centuries as the embodiment of beauty, femininity, and seduction. With this work, I reimagine the legendary myth through a contemporary lens – powerful brushstrokes, warm hues, and a composition that captures both the strength and vulnerability of the goddess.
 
This Venus, however, is not Botticelli’s pale muse. She is a stunning Black woman, radiant and dignified, with flowing hair and a white drapery she holds close to her body. She rises from a giant seashell, inside which rests a luminous pearl – a symbol of wisdom, resilience, and the treasures that emerge from life’s depths. Behind her, the ocean stretches endlessly, its waves echoing both motion and eternity, while the twilight sky glows in violet, pink, and blue – a threshold between day and night, presence and possibility.
 
Symbolism & Storytelling
 
Every element of this painting carries symbolic weight.
The Seashell: A cradle of rebirth and divine origin, it references Botticelli’s Renaissance masterpiece while reclaiming the myth through a new cultural narrative.
The Pearl: Hidden within the shell, it represents inner beauty, strength born of challenge, and the quiet power of transformation.
The White Drapery: Suggests purity, but also vulnerability – a reminder that true strength often lies in the balance between exposure and protection.
The Twilight Sky: A liminal space of transition, symbolizing change, hope, and the infinite horizon of what is yet to come.
The Ocean: Eternal and boundless, it speaks of origin, depth, and the universal womb from which all life emerges.
This Venus is not an object of gaze alone – she is presence itself. She claims her space with poise and grace, her figure both ethereal and grounded.
 
Technique & Artistic Vision
 
Created in oil on fine linen, the painting brings together layered textures and vibrant yet harmonious color tones. The frame was carefully chosen to emphasize its generous dimensions, making Venus a commanding centerpiece for any space.
 
This work connects classical art history with modern expression, reclaiming and expanding the story of Venus for today. It speaks not only of beauty, but of resilience, transformation, and the timeless power of the feminine.
 
A statement piece for collectors who seek art that is not just seen, but felt.