Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
Black is beautiful?
Black is beautiful …
Black is beautiful,
No.
Black is beautiful. PERIOD. And with all eyes recently on Meghan Markle and the Royal Family, visual artists like Ceres “Diaja” Henry are making sure the world knows that "black is beautiful is a complete, and full, sentence.
A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), with an Associates in Patternmaking and Bachelors in Production Management, Ceres “Diaja” Henry’s work is rooted in highlighting the modern and contemporary styles and aesthetics within the African diaspora. During her days as a rising fashion designer, she was able to draw from mentors such as Norma Kamali (F.I.T. graduate, and designer featured on the Fashion Walk of Fame) and Damon Dash (Poppington Gallery), with her earlier work being featured in L'oreal Paris, Pynk Magazine, Lucky Magazine, Her Source (sister magazine to The Source Magazine) and worn by celebrity TV personalities.
“Racism is like stage four cancer in this country. Sadly, too many people are in denial about the diagnosis.”
If you browse her Instagram or her Twitter, you’ll see how Ceres is putting in work to depict the beauty of blackness with the click of her camera lens. Images such as a man painted pitch black with floral imagery on his body is the poster image for Ceres’ upcoming exhibition. While some may feel that there is enough racial tension here in America, Ceres’ work show us that there is still room to change the narrative.
When asked about her work, Ceres said that she knows it will not resonate with everyone, and she is perfectly OK with that. She went on to say that her main focus is to continue to use her voice, through her art and photography, to bring attention to social disparities and the need for social activism and change.
The dopest part about Ceres’ work, is how she uses vibrant hues, styles and settings against black bodies to create captivating images that speak to black life and high fashion. And while the post-millennial world may be inundated by Gucci, Versace and high-end designers, due to the global influence of trap music, the overwhelming reality is that we rarely see daily imagery of people that look like us, simply looking good and living their best lives in regular settings. No matter your station in life, the human experience provides us all reasons to throw on our Sunday’s best. And perusing through this creative photographer’s social media and website, all it does is make one want to go thrifting in Buckhead with my best pals and shut the city down.
Ceres has worked with the likes of Miss USA 2016, Deshauna Barber, Miss USA 2017, Kara McCullough, and America’s Next Top Model participant, Bre Scullark. As her live creative canvases, Ceres has captured the beauty of black women in ways that only a true artist can.
On June 8, Ceres will be hosting an art gallery entitled “ Adam x Eve: Power. Beauty. Resilience” at the Tempo Rubato Gallery (213 East 121st Street) in New York, New York. From the event’s description, the goal of the event is to provide a counter-narrative to the media’s status quo of what blackness is. And from the look of things, she will ensure that it is an experience to remember.
Visit diaja.com for more information on one of our next cultural icons in the visual arts, and be sure to grab your tickets for her amazing event!
(This article was co-written by Maleeka Holloway, Founder & CEO of The Official Maleeka Group, an agency specializing in creative brand consulting, communications and public relations.)
