In 1951, doctors took Henrietta Lacks’ cancer cells without her knowledge, which contributed to decades of cancer research and reshaped modern medicine. Seventy-four years later, visual artist Lavett Ballard is reclaiming Lacks’ story.
Her collage, “Invisible Women,” centers on Lacks’ legacy while confronting the ignored contributions of Black women in science and the history of exploitation that silenced them.
Ballard’s work is currently displayed in the David C. Driskell Center as part of the “Solace & Sisterhood” exhibit. The gallery highlights the work of Ballard and two other multimedia artists, Amber Robles-Gordon and Evita Tezeno.
Through their pieces, the artists reflect on shared experiences, understanding and a supportive bond that fosters resilience. They examine a sense of sisterhood within the Black community, which transcends individual stories and shared experiences, creating a space for solace.
Jamiyah Bonds, a sophomore government and politics major, said she always enjoys seeing other people’s world experiences through art.
“This gallery is meant to showcase Black art, so being able to see three Black women come together and show this unique bond that I don’t really see portrayed in a lot of other media and art is really interesting,” Bonds said.
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The idea for the gallery came from a conversation on friendship and sisterhood that the three artists had in 2022. This happened to be the first time that Robles-Gordon and Tezeno met. This is “Solace & Sisterhood’s” second showing, with the first being in Arlington, Virginia at the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2024.
Robles-Gordon’s “In tribute to love, nature, and friendship,” which Ballard contributed to, features a quilt surrounded by talking sticks, each holding a unique pattern and texture. Live plants, mirrors, sayings and textiles surround the piece representing the love, nature and power of friendship and family.
“I wanted people to see that energy,” Robles-Gordon said. “I wanted people to see … the imagery of plants, of light and color, and be lifted from that.”
Tezeno’s collage “You Are My Sun, You Are My Moon” asks a powerful question: “How do Black mothers cope with raising their sons in a society that devalues Black men?”
The hand-painted piece depicts a mother cradling her child. The ball in the boy’s hands symbolizes the world before him. It simultaneously reflects the challenges he will face in a world that often marginalizes the Black community, while also showing hope and opportunity. The mother’s expression is a mix of love and concern.
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Although the artwork portrays heavy topics, Bonds believes the exhibit is soothing with its soft colors, calling it a “breath of fresh air.”
Junior marketing major Jayla Cole, a gallery monitor, agrees the atmosphere in the exhibit feels calming, serene and positive. She notes many exhibit goers leave with questions.
“I feel like a lot of the artwork is complex,” Cole said. “People are always asking ‘what does this mean? Is that related to this?’”
“A Vision of Self” is a mixed-media work by Robles-Gordon and Zoë Charlton that “explore[s] identity, transformation, and the power of sisterhood.” Robles-Gordon crafted this quilted self-portrait from upcycled and thrifted materials, symbolizing her healing journey from past experiences.
“I wanted to absolutely present a vision of hope, action, activation and celebration,” Robles-Gordon said. “I’m saying to the universe ‘this is the best version of me thus far.’”
Beneath the quilt, plants represent growth and renewal. Robles-Gordon said she turned to cultural study, including looking at the dance of bomba, as part of her healing process, diving into her Afro-Puerto Rican heritage. She explained her quit reflects her “healing forward,” reconnecting with her heritage.
Bonds said she hopes exhibit viewers will learn something new through the exhibit.“Some people just come in here … for five minutes and I see people who spend an hour walking through and really absorbing the messages [the art] is trying to convey,” Bonds said.
