Women in the Heights: Personal Shades
Explore how artists translate their inner world into visual representations of shade.
Cozy Enigma (2023) by Mesoma Hammida OnyeagbaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The Women in the Heights series is an annual exhibition hosted by the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance. Curated by Andrea Arroyo after witnessing "a lack of women in the community's art world".
Now in its 17th iteration, it serves as a dedicated platform to showcase the diverse perspectives and creative contributions of women artists living or working in the Uptown NYC community.
Chisme (2026) by Flor KhanNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Memory as a living material
Family photos are used to explore the protective "shade" of memory. By centering on ancestral figures, the work treats historical narratives and cultural stories as a form of resistance and a means of preserving identity across generations.
Dusk: Self-Portrait With Ania (2025) by Tania TaubesNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The emotional truth of dusk
Inspired by childhood memories of training burros, the artist uses the softening light of day’s end to explore the intimate, sometimes surreal "shade" of her personal history and connections.
Hebban Olla Vogala (2022) by Yona VerwerNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The shade of displacement
There is a psychological shade one occupies when navigating between two different worlds. This internal space acts as a vessel for transformation, capturing the quiet, contemplative state of the immigrant experience.
Unveiled (2024) by Christy MartinezNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Unveiling the inner self
Shade functions here as both a literal and metaphorical veil. It highlights the tension between the persona we show the world and the truths we keep in the shadows, celebrating the beauty found in the gradual process of self-discovery.
Yellow Room (2026) by Margo MooreNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Shade as a private refuge
Shade functions here as both a literal and metaphorical veil. It highlights the tension between the persona we show the world and the truths we keep in the shadows, celebrating the beauty found in the gradual process of self-discovery.
Axis Mundi (2031) by Yumi RodriguezNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Sheltering the unseen labor
This work honors the protective shade of maternal care. Representing a central pillar of life, the sheltering form symbolizes the unseen labor that sustains generations, grounding personal memory in the physical world through recycled and protective materials.
The Daily Grind (2023) by Leah PollerNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The nuance of the daily grind
Poller views shade as a vital filter for perception. By moving through a palette of dark and light, her work seeks a reality seen in a "less harsh light," where personal experience and historical reference blend to create a more nuanced, livable truth.
Cozy Enigma (2023) by Mesoma Hammida OnyeagbaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The texture of tranquility
By focusing on the "shade" found within the folds of physical materials, value is uncovered in the overlooked. These tactile memories are transformed into cherished artifacts that offer a sense of enduring comfort and quietude.
Blue in Bed Part II (2025) by Paula Maria PersianiNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Survival in the soft shadows
Shade is reimagined here as a site of both vulnerability and resistance. A skeletal form serves as a powerful symbol of survival amidst systemic strain, illustrating the internal strength required to find refuge within one’s own psyche.
Roxanne (2022) by Susan RubinNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Stepping out of the shadows
This narrative portrays the transition from the shade of dominance into the sunlight of empowerment. It is a story of reclaiming space and defining one's own light after spending years in the background.
Shades of Brown, Skewed (2025) by Rosa NaparstekNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Finding essential humanity
By exploring shade as both a refuge and a constraint, this work urges a deeper "remembering." It reveals that our shared vulnerability is the most essential part of our humanity, found within the common shadows we all inhabit.
Visualize, Kujichunguza (Introspect) (2023) by Robin "Uniqua" SimmonsNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
The introspection of Kujichunguza
Through the practice of Kujichunguza (introspection), one filters out the external elements that impede clear vision. This process creates a focused, internal sanctuary where personal purpose remains protected, resilient, and clearly defined.
Multitudes of Shade
Throughout this journey, we have seen that "shade" is never just one thing. It is the systemic shadow of colorism, the literal refuge of a sunbrella, and the intimate sanctuary of our private memories. By examining these works, we see that while shade can obscure, it also protects, defines, and reveals. We invite you to carry these perspectives forward—finding beauty in the shadows and strength in the places where the light and the dark meet.
The artistic journey doesn’t end with this exhibition. To dive deeper into the vibrant creative ecosystem of Uptown NYC, visit the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance website. From the annual Uptown Arts Stroll to our technical labs and grant opportunities, our programming is designed to amplify the voices that define our neighborhood. Explore our full calendar of events and discover how you can support or participate in the local arts movement.
Thank you for exploring Women in the Heights: Shade with the Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance.
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.