Responding to the special exhibition There Is a Woman in Every Color: Black Women in Art, Shakira Hunt presents the latest iteration of her ongoing photographic series, “Give Me My Flowers – Soft Petals”. Hunt’s installation transforms Orientation Hallway and invites viewers to embark on a journey of introspection, healing, and empowerment.
Through her lens, Hunt captures the essence of Black womanhood—the resilience, strength, and softness embodied in every petal. Hunt’s use of mixed materials reflects and honors the multifaceted nature of Black women, reclaiming space and agency over their narratives. As Hunt reflects on her own upbringing and familial dynamics, she invites viewers to confront their own experiences of the mother wound—her term for the emotional scars inflicted by maternal relationships. Hunt’s exploration of identity, trauma, and joy takes her installation beyond a visual experience to serve as a catalyst for collective healing and self-discovery. Through the process of documentation and adornment, “Soft Petals” affirms that every bloom carries within it the seeds of transformation and renewal.
This installation was commissioned and organized by Delaware Art Museum with generous support provided by Art Bridges and PNC Arts Alive. This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
