Away with the Tides (section)

Calida Rawles created this striking image of a figure suspended in deep blue water, dressed in a rich maroon outfit that contrasts beautifully against the cool tones around them. The body floats in a curled position, half-submerged, with bare feet breaking the surface. Rawles works in a hyperrealist style, which means she paints with such precision that the water looks like you could reach into it. Every ripple, reflection, and ribbon of light feels almost photographic, yet there is something dreamlike about the whole scene.

Water is a central theme in Rawles's work, and she uses it to explore ideas about Black identity, healing, and history. For her, water can be both a place of danger and a place of peace, carrying memories tied to the past while also offering a sense of freedom and renewal. The figure here seems weightless, caught somewhere between sinking and floating, which invites you to wonder whether this is a moment of struggle or calm. Based in Los Angeles, Rawles has earned wide recognition for these powerful underwater portraits that turn a simple swimmer into something poetic and deeply human.