Black Figure Series

Dark & Divine™ is a visionary collaboration by figure model and creative entrepreneur Dasia Hood, crafted for the Black community.

This immersive experience invites Black artists to reclaim the narrative of Black bodies—sacred, powerful, and worthy of reverence—against the distortions of colonization and media. Through figurative art and writing, Dark & Divine™ offers workshops, discussions, and exhibitions that reawaken the Black community’s connection to nudity's cultural and spiritual significance across the African diaspora, embracing the divine gaze, identity, and protest.

Each event fosters radical expression and healing, celebrating Blackness in human form. The series culminates in a 21+ bold, sensual, and spiritual exhibition of Black portraiture, showcasing local and regional collaborations between Black artists and models.

In Fall 2024, Dark & Divine™ will partner with the Harvey B. Gantt Museum, followed by the McColl Center in Summer 2025, featuring Southern Black artists to celebrate Black identity, artistry, and the divine.

Exterior of a modern building with glass and metal paneling, with a sign that reads 'Harvey B. Gantt Center.' The entrance is visible with glass doors, and there are plants and flowers outside.

Celebrating Black Bodies as Art

Dark & Divine™ programming at Harvey B. Gantt Center spans three months, from August 2024 to October 2024, aligning with Gantt’s Wednesday Night Live, Family Saturday Afternoon, and Art After Dark events. Programming conceptualizes educational, artistic, and cultural perspectives within figurative art. It creates spaces for discussing experiences across the African-American Diaspora influencing body positivity, divine connections, and dysmorphia in the Black community.

Exhibition Partners

Fall 2024 Program

Figures in Color: Family Figure Painting and Poetry Workshop

8.10 1:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public. RSVP includes art supplies.

FREE RSVP
Wednesday Night Live: Adults Only R&B Figure Drawing Session

9.18 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Free and open the public. RSVP required. Limited Seats available.

FREE REGISTRATION
Dark & Divine - Art After Dark Imitating Life

10.18 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
RSVP for Pop-up Exhibit, Workshop, and Artist Panel. Free and open to the public. Cash bar.

FREE RSVP

Elevated Black Figurative Art Experience for All Ages!

Figures in Color is an open figure painting session for all ages led by instructor Ida Mae, a watercolor artist, teacher, and curator. The two-hour session features live, fully clothed African-American art models and figurative watercolor techniques. Participants also use figurative art and creative writing to explore generational influences on body positivity in the Black community.

Figures in Color is part of Gantt’s Becoming the Sea Community Day. The weekend celebration of Becoming The Sea begins with the opening reception on Friday, August 9. It extends to a Saturday of discussion, hands-on art, behind-the-scenes exhibition exploration, live music, and more – all of which have ancestral and diasporic influences that form a bridge between Dakar and Charlotte. It is a day of experiences that the community can enjoy.

Exposure to Fine Art Techniques

Instructor-led figure drawing workshop: Figures in Color is led by fine art and watercolor instructor and artist Ida Mae.

Complimentary art supplies: Thanks to our sponsor, Jerry's Artarama Charlotte, watercolor paint, brushes, paper, and additional art supplies are provided.

Free and open to the public: Figure in Color is free for all ages.

Body Positivity Talks by YASÉ, featuring Tammeka Staley.

Learn More

A group of five women poses together in a room with wooden floors and a gray wall. They are standing behind a black fabric with a red cloth draped over it. One woman holds a long gold staff, and the others are smiling. To the left, there is a white u

A family of three standing in front of a large colorful poster at an event. The man is holding a drawing of a woman sitting on a chair, the young girl is holding a drawing of a woman with an orange background, and the woman is holding a drawing of a

A woman dressed in colorful African attire, sitting on a chair with her arm resting on a stick. There is a bright studio light on her left, and a black and red backdrop behind her. The room has wooden floors and patterned rugs, with a drum and some f

A woman wearing a black dress kneels on the floor in front of an easel with a portrait of a woman painted on paper. She is holding a paintbrush and a palette of colors. Behind her, there is a large colorful poster on the wall promoting an art exhibit

People sitting around a table, drawing and painting with various art supplies on the table.

Interior of a community center or event space with a large group of people participating in a gathering. The room has a high ceiling with spotlights and track lighting. There are tables with artwork, merchandise, and informational displays, and indiv

People attending an art presentation or workshop in a room with a large screen displaying information about an event called "Figures in Color" on August 10. A woman dressed in traditional African attire and holding a staff stands at the front, speaki

A large group of people seated around tables in a conference or seminar room, listening to a speaker. There is a large screen at the front displaying text about an event called 'Figures in Color' happening on August 10, with logos for 'Dark Divine' a

Flyer for a family figure painting workshop titled 'Dark & Divine' presented by Dasia Hood, featuring Yasé, scheduled for Saturday, August 10th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Harvey B. Gantt Museum, Performance Suite, 2nd floor. Sponsored by Jerry's A

Dark & Divine™ R&B Figure Session welcomed artists and community members, ages 18 and up, to the Harvey B. Gantt Museum for an elevated figure drawing experience. Featuring a curated soundscape of sultry R&B spellcasted by DJ Nebula; acclaimed art instructor Ida Mae led the event. Hosts Dasia Hood and the sensual Wild Recluse set the tone for the evening, which opened with stirring poetry readings, including Phyllis Wheatley's “On Being Brought from Africa to America” and Chike Carter’s “Ode to My Sweet Sexy Brown.” In this intimate setting, models Meka Wilson and Daniel Baptiste held 10-minute poses, inviting guests to immerse themselves in the creative and interactive journey.

Gallery photography credit: Xross, Votos Design

Sponsored by Jerry’s Artarama and Grindhaus Studios

Dark & Divine™: R&B 18+ Figure Drawing Session

A yellow promotional poster for an art event titled 'Dark & Divine,' presented by Dasia Hood, featuring a dark silhouette of a woman with hoop earrings against a yellow background. The text indicates an 18+ figure drawing session on September 18 at 6 p.m. at the Harvey B. Gantt Museum.

A woman with long braided hair standing in front of a whiteboard, writing with her right hand during a presentation or class. The scene is dimly lit with a projection on the wall.

Dark & Divine x Art After Dark

Dark & Divine™ featured seven local artists in a 21+ Pop-up Exhibition, co-curated by Wild Recluse, where figurative art with themes of beauty, identity, love, and divinity was showcased alongside a self-guide sensual collage workshop.

The exhibition included a four-person panel who discussed the beauty of Black bodies and experiences in the figurative art community.

Art After Dark: Imitating Life

People seated in chairs and standing in a hallway, attending a live event or presentation. Music equipment and a music stand are visible near the group on the left.

A group of women sitting on stage or in a panel discussion, one woman speaking into a microphone. The scene appears to be an indoor event, possibly a conference or seminar.

A collage of images featuring various people, including a woman with long hair, a man with a beard, and a group of people engaged in activity, with the word 'love' written at the bottom of the collage. A single red rose with a long green stem is plac

Six women standing together and smiling, posing for a photo indoors near tables with books and flowers.

People sitting in a row at an event, smiling and engaging with each other, with a large screen in the background displaying a person’s face.

A woman with short dark hair, wearing a black blazer, red top, and red patterned pants, is speaking into a microphone with her right hand raised in the air. She is seated with drums behind her, in front of a glass window.

A panel discussion with five women seated on chairs in front of a black curtain backdrop, speaking into microphones, with an audience watching. The setting appears to be indoors, possibly at a conference or community event.

Group of women gathered around a table at an indoor event, engaging with displayed items and lanterns, with artwork and other people in the background.

A group of diverse people standing in line at an indoor event, with a table decorated with red roses and candles, and a woman inspecting items on the table.

People gathered around a table displaying papers, pens, and a yellow board, engaging in an activity or discussion at an indoor event.

Two women smiling and hugging at an indoor event. One woman with long braids wearing a black jacket, the other with short curly hair wearing a red patterned top. In the background, a display with the words 'Dark Divine' and a bookshelf with books.

Two women with dark curly hair smiling and leaning close together, standing in front of a grey wall, with a third person partially visible in the foreground. There is a table with books and papers behind them.

A group of women gathered around a table looking at magazines and artwork in an indoor setting, with art pieces displayed in the background.

People gathered around a table displaying artwork, in an indoor event space.

A diverse group of women seated in a panel discussion or event, one woman speaking into a microphone while others listen with relaxed expressions.

A panel discussion with five women seated on stage, holding microphones, in front of a black curtain, in an indoor venue with a large glass window behind them, and an audience watching.

For Collectors.

View and order Dark & Divine™ art for sale.

Colorful painting of a woman with curly hair and an intense gaze, surrounded by vibrant yellow, orange, pink, and blue abstract background with white patterned accents.

Close-up black and white photo of a person's torso, with hands crossed over chest, wearing a dark lace garment.

A woman sitting on a black wooden chair with green curtains in the background, wearing a matching pink and white patterned dress, hoop earrings, and a watch, with one leg crossed over the other

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A mixed media artwork featuring a child sitting on a sofa, looking out a window, with a large, illuminated signature or word 'Re' in red neon-style script across the image. The background includes abstract colorful patterns and textures.

Dasia Hood, creator of Dark & Divine™ and Lorem Ipsum Listening Bar, presents [red]: Rated R, a daring and immersive exhibition that unfolds across Lorem Ipsum's hallway gallery and four meticulously curated rooms. Through a storytelling and sensory lens, this exhibition invites guests to embark on a transformative journey of sensual discovery and connection, navigating the stages of pleasure from flirtation to full appreciation. Each room is a chapter in this narrative, using film, visual arts, photography, and live performance to explore themes of intimacy, autonomy, and artistic expression.

Scheduled to debut on Valentine’s Day, this experience invites audiences to delve into themes of body autonomy, consent, sexual identity, sensuality, desire, taboo, and intimacy. The event features a pre-show screening of Wild Recluse’s new erotic film, Owl Pussy.

This is the film portion of Dark & Divine™, opening on March 6 at McColl Center.

Event poster for an art series titled 'Lorem Ipsum' at a listening bar, scheduled from 8:30 pm to 1 am. The poster features a red background with black and white text, and includes a large red and black "R" rating warning. The poster lists participat

People socializing in a dimly lit room with red lighting, including women in dresses and a man sitting in the background.

Three women standing and sitting in a dimly lit room with red lighting, holding drinks, at a social gathering or party.

Group of people gathered at a dimly lit restaurant or bar with hanging pendant lights, socializing and smiling.

Group of people socializing in a dimly lit bar or restaurant with red lighting, two women in the foreground smiling and talking, others sitting in the background.

Person holding a drink in a red-lit setting.

Group of people sitting together in a dimly lit red-colored room, some holding drinks and engaging in conversation.

Group of women at a social event, some smiling and others looking at their phones, with warm red lighting.

A woman dancing topless in a nightclub with red lighting, holding a drink, surrounded by other people.

People dancing on a floor covered with money, illuminated by red lighting.

Two women sitting close together on a couch in a dimly lit room with red lighting, with text in the background.

People dancing and socializing at a party with red lighting.

People dancing and socializing in a dimly lit bar or club with red lighting.

A group of people socializing in a dimly lit bar or restaurant, engaged in conversation and smiling.

A woman with curly hair is leaning toward a shirtless man with tattoos and dreadlocks, in a room with red lighting and wooden blinds, both smiling.

People at a party holding red cups with red lighting, some looking at their phones, in a room with artwork on the walls.

Two women dancing and enjoying themselves in a dimly lit room with red lighting, decorated with string lights and a wall with hooks.

Interior of a themed room with a red and pink color scheme, featuring bunk beds decorated with balloons, a woman in pink standing on a ladder, and a sign that reads 'Red R Pleasure Room'.

Stone church with blue banners reading 'ART INS' and an arched entrance with steps, surrounded by green grass and shrubs under a partly cloudy sky.

Spring 2025 Exhibition

The McColl Center presents Dark & Divine™, a group exhibition curated by Dasia Hood, featuring artists Dionna Bright, Chad Cartwright, Patrick Sainte, Jerry Taliaferro, Darian Parham, Jason Dawkins, and Ida M. Irby.

Dark & Divine™ is a bold reawakening of the Black artist’s connection to nudity, exploring its cultural and spiritual significance across the African-American Diaspora. The exhibition challenges the historical distortions imposed by colonization, society, and media that have hypersexualized and desecrated Black nudity, creating a dialogue of shame around sensuality and self-image.

Through collaborative artist-model portraits, mixed media works, and personal storytelling, the featured artists reclaim Black bodies as sacred, powerful, and deserving of reverence. Each work reflects on nudity through spiritual, societal, and personal lenses, using it as a vehicle for self-expression, healing, and a redefinition of beauty.

Dark & Divine™ centers Black divinity as the perspective for exploring sensuality and nudity, inviting viewers to reconnect with their own bodies and sexuality as vessels of freedom, intimacy, and the divine. This transformative exhibition fosters new conversations about the inherent beauty and sacredness of Black bodies, offering a space for liberation and reverence.

Dates:

March 6th - May 24th

Learn More

A crowded indoor event with people seated on white chairs facing a large speaker screen, some standing and talking, with exposed brick walls and track lighting.

Three people, two women and one man, are smiling and looking downwards in a close-up shot in an indoor setting. The man is wearing a black t-shirt with yellow text and a black cap with a white tag. The women have braided hair, earrings, and are dress

A woman with big, curly hair laughing and talking to others in a group setting, with a brick wall in the background.

A woman in a yellow dress speaking into a microphone during a panel discussion, with three other panelists and an audience member in the foreground, indoors with brick walls and a large screen displaying a prompt.

Four people on a panel in front of an audience during a discussion or event, with one person holding a microphone, seated on chairs and small tables, and a laptop on a stand to the side.

Women standing and sitting on stage during a panel discussion or event, with audience members watching. One woman is holding a paper and another has a microphone.

A woman with short hair, wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress, large hoop earrings, and multiple bracelets, smiling and engaging in conversation indoors with exposed brick walls in the background.

Women talking and looking at artwork in an art gallery or museum.

Two women smiling and posing in front of a wall text at an exhibition titled "Dark & Divine."

People gathered for a presentation or discussion in a room with a large TV screen on the left and a woman in a yellow dress sitting on the right. Several individuals are standing and talking at the front, with some looking at a paper and others smili

Dark & Divine Union

Dark & Divine Union is a powerful spiritual dance piece co-created by choreographer Jason Dawkins and artist Dasia Hood. Rooted in the sacred rhythms of the African diaspora—including influences from Lindy Hop and Capoeira—this performance honors the transformative power of love as a divine healing force. Through movement, it explores how our darkest experiences can be transmuted by God’s grace into something holy and whole. This film is a sensual, reverent meditation on what it means to come into union—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It acknowledges that intimacy is not just pleasure or passion, but a sacred exchange of spirit. Dark & Divine Union asks: What if every touch was a prayer? Every dance a ritual of remembrance and renewal? As the culminating work of the Dark & Divine series, this piece reclaims Black bodies as divine vessels—especially in moments of nudity and sensuality. It is both a celebration and a call: to regard our bodies and connections as sacred, worthy of awe, respect, and spiritual care. Premiered on April 24, 2025, at McColl Center in Charlotte, NC, Dark & Divine Union is a visual offering—an altar of Black love, embodiment, and transformation.