julez

Julez is a 6-foot-tall sculptural installation celebrating the strength, beauty and resilience of Black women.

I wanted her to feel powerful and grounded, connected to the earth and standing proudly in who she is. The guardian figures surrounding her represent protection, loyalty and the feeling of being watched over.

She was created using thousands of tiny cut threads, synthetic wool, 24-carat gold leaf, gold wire and embellishments.

Every layer was built by hand, bringing together softness, texture, strength and detail.

When I began creating her, she didn't have a name.

Around the time I completed the piece, my cousin passed away following an illness. She had shown incredible strength and resilience throughout that time and had continued to fight despite everything she was going through.

When I looked at the finished sculpture, this strong, powerful woman standing before me.

I saw those same qualities in my cousin. And I knew her name was Julez.

My cousin's brother had also passed away earlier that same year, so although Julez carries my female cousin's name, the piece holds a connection to them both.

What began as a celebration of the strength and resilience of Black women became something much more personal.

Julez reminds me of a woman who kept fighting, remained strong through an incredibly difficult time and left that strength behind in the people who loved her.