Dominican artist Kandy G. Lopez is redefining portraiture through vibrant, larger-than-life “fiber paintings” that celebrate Afro-Caribbean and Black identity. Using yarn as her medium, Lopez creates textured portraits full of movement, color, and what she calls “brown tumbao” — a bold, confident presence rooted in culture, visibility, and representation.

Born to Dominican parents and raised between New Jersey and South Florida, Lopez’s work explores race, colorism, community, and the beauty of brown skin tones. Her portraits have been exhibited across the country, including her 2023 Pompano Beach exhibition inspired by Samaná, Dominican Republic, and she is now represented by New York’s ACA Galleries.

Through her art and her role as an Art History professor at Nova Southeastern University, Lopez continues to uplift Afro-Caribbean stories and remind communities of color that they deserve to be seen in powerful spaces.

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Source: Remezcla