Away with the Tides (section)

Here we see someone suspended in brilliant turquoise water, their body captured in a moment of stillness that feels both peaceful and weightless. Calida Rawles is a contemporary artist known for her stunning hyperrealistic paintings that explore Black figures in water, using the pool as a space of meditation, freedom, and reclamation. The rippling surface above creates mesmerizing patterns of light that dance across the scene.

Water holds complicated history in the African American experience, from the Middle Passage to segregated swimming pools. Rawles transforms it into a space of healing and contemplation. The rich purple and burgundy tones of the clothing contrast beautifully against the cool blues, while the figure seems to float in complete surrender. There's something deeply calming about watching someone exist so comfortably in this liquid space, turning what was once a site of exclusion into one of belonging and peace.