Mirlande Jean-Gilles is a self-taught artist who lives and works in Baltimore, Maryland. She was born in New York to Haitian immigrant parents and then was sent to live with her grandmothers in Gonaives, Haiti at the age of 3. Jean-Gilles returned to New York a few years later, and had to relearn to speak English, but those years definitely had a lasting impact on her. Her culture and her experiences in Haiti serve as a major influence for her artwork, vibrant, mystical, and whimsical scenes of the diaspora.

The artist states,

“As a Haitian American I am very inspired by Haiti and the strength of Haitian people. A lot of my art work evokes that spirit.

I am influenced by my very strong grandmothers who both were widowers and had to raise children and make a living without a partner, but they had a village. And they made it work!”

Prints of works by Mirlande Jean-Gilles are available at her Etsy Shop, starting from $25.00.

h/t Kreyolicious.