Julie Jean-Mary, a Black, Haitian American artist, from Orlando, FL-makes drawings, paintings, and sculptures. Jean-Mary focuses on challenging 'societal norms' and more specifically the dismantling of the European beauty standards placed upon people of color. Her drawings and paintings are depictions of people and hair in a terrestrial and supernatural sense. As well as using colors that are inspired by Haitian as well as Afro-centric cultures. She also emphasizes textures of hair, through sculpture and portraiture, as a form of resistance against the concept of exclusive beauty. Her works show how beauty extends beyond its own subjective limits, and often tell a story through the portraits of people, who would usually be ignored.

In celebration of Haitian culture and Haitian independence, my work is bright and vibrating with pride and beauty. The works, Manman,Kremas Ayiti, Ayiti Cherie and Freedom soup each depict a different part of Haitian culture. The works also take on an illustrative style similar to vintage travel posters. Manman depicts a mother making food for her family in a wooded area. She is focused but she is beautiful while working hard and providing for her family. Kremas Ayiti, depicts a woman holding a precious bottle of a holiday drink we call Kremas. Ayiti Cherie depicts a beautiful dark-skinned woman holding drinks that are drinking from Haiti, Barbancourt Rhum as well as prestige. She holds them with happiness and pride ready to offer the taste of the island. Freedom soup, this painting depicts just that. A bowl of Soup Joumou (pumpkin soup holds a heavy weight in culture and the stories behind it. Each work depicted is a pride and joy to show and share my Haitian culture.