The female figures in Scherezade Garcia’s latest solo show at Praxis Gallery are dressed in such elaborate costumes, merged with rich, decorative backgrounds, that their faces and bodies are almost secondary to a rich profusion of cultural references from Africa, Spain and the Caribbean. Here, a youthful face with a composed and wise expression suggests a visionary figure; the painting’s title, ‘Anacaona Catalina Marie del Congo Alto’ brings to mind Anacaona, the female Taino leader who resisted Spanish occupation, along with references to Spain and Africa. (On view in Chelsea through Nov 28th.)
