"Through the simplicity of paper, I create my art to teach and highlight the complex struggles and authentic beauty of black people and black culture.

Growing up, I didn’t see many pictures of black women as Queens, either historical or fictional, or in many positions of power. From this lack of representation, Besa Saka was created to display black women in positions of power with grace and beauty. Using the format of a playing card, I experimented with ways to highlight black beauty through hair, patterns, symbols, and adornments. This paper-cut piece is named after the staff in the Queen's hands. Besa Saka is a West African Adinkra symbol meaning "sack of coloa nuts," representing affluence, power, abundance, plenty, togetherness, and unity, all traits a Queen would need to reign."

- Janelle Washington

Prints are produced on demand on stretched canvas, acrylic plexi, or giclee fine art paper in a variety of sizes here in the United States.

Contact ArtLifting for larger size options.