Destiny Branay

Artist Bio

Destiny Branay (b. 1998) is a Baltimore based oil painter whose starry-eyed portraits serve as a reminder that maintaining hope is a practice necessary for survival. Inspired by the 1973 song by Boris Gardiner, Every Nigger Is a Star, along with innumerable other stories of Black resilience, Destiny references her familial photo archive to weave the past, present, and future into vibrant, new imaginings of Black everyday life. Aside from her degree in Fine Art from the Community College of Baltimore County, she is mostly self taught, allowing intuition to be her guide. With great reverence for those who carried their light through much darkness before her, Destiny utilizes her personal journey with practicing hopefulness to encourage herself and her community. The exhibition of these images through group shows and fairs, most notably The Hamptons Fine Art Fair, forces the viewer to pause and recognize their own internal light.

Artist Statement

I am a star bound to a body. A star manifested and maintained by those who shined before me. Despite continued efforts to stomp out our light; we as Black people have not only survived, but thrived; crafting a thriving culture with the crumbs given to us. Recognizing hope as a force necessary for survival, we pass this light through generations. My ancestors’ firm commitment to holding onto their light in the face of extreme adversity inspires me to create work in their honor. The vibrant images of Black folk existing freely depicted in my work are a testament of our determination to make the most out of living in a society that aims to dim our light. Using mostly oil paint, I recontextualize family photo archives, culturally relevant textile patterns, along with other miscellaneous references to highlight the spirited nature of the everyday Black experience across the diaspora and time. Combining references from the past and present, allows me to reimagine new futures and even alternate realities of Black life. This bending of time creates the space for the view to ponder other constructs to be molded and changed. Bold textile patterns often frame and weave through the subjects of my work. They highlight the importance of aesthetics and perceived beauty in maintaining a long, hopeful life. Their repetitive nature encourages stillness in the viewer, as their eyes are guided around the canvas. I adorn the eyes of my subjects with bright, yellow stars. These stars are symbolic of the everpresent light that exists inside every Black person; it moves us through the world even when we don’t see or feel it. While the body serves as a temporary vessel, the light shines eternally. As the physical fades, the light is passed on; moving the necessary spirit of radical hope to the next vessel. With this practice, dreams of liberation do not die with the dreamer, they are nurtured and cared for until they bear fruit. May these representations of hope remind us of the power we possess and move us toward the stars.

Available Works

BAPS, 2021

Salvation?, 2025

Oil on canvas

24x30in

$2200