Full Title: "I wish people talked more about Black women as complex human beings. Not just bearers of trauma, or perfect and magical creatures. But as people capable of being both flawed and beautiful.
 
This piece is from Kaylyn Elyse's latest series "What is something you wish people talked about more?". This question was asked to the figures who posed for Elyse, and their responses were made the titles of their portraits.  The works in this series encourage bonding between the figures and the viewers, challenging the object-nature of the paintings through this personal interaction. The textured background symbolizes a disruption of/"bubbling up" from the clean white background to hint at the breakthroughs that are made through deep conversations. 
 
This work is 30" x 40", and was done in oil, acrylic, and pumice gel.