KYra BeLaN

WWW.KYRABELAN.COM

“Great Goddess Isis Colored Pencil” Mixed On Paper, 48"x40”

By Yadira Roman

"My art is about celebrating Mother Earth – it's plants, animals, ecosystems, and flowers. It is about the beauty of nature, and it celebrates the divine feminine and the inherent equality of genders and global cultures. I hope that when spectators look at my art, they are inspired to love, respect, and preserve our planet and work harder at preventing climate change."

Award-winning artist, activist, and academic Kyra Belán creates masterful expressions with a pulsating mix of color, text, and figures. Belan swiftly tackles topics related to race, gender, and politics with many styles, such as painting, drawing, digital photography, and installations.

Her art is grounded on environmental, social, and political issues, reaching a collective of crowds as her work has been used in political campaigns advocating for women's rights. In addition, she advocates for mother nature through metaphorical depictions of idols and animal scenery that she vividly portrays with popping realism.

In this issue, she depicts female artists Georgia O'keefe and Frida Khalo as compelling protagonists in art history, once again unapologetically asserting her devotion to women's rights.

Belán's displays of historical female role model portraiture paintings incorporate elements of nature in supporting her symbolic storytelling in connecting feminine strengths and their relation to planet earth. She features bold and vibrant

“Georgia O’keeffe With Jimson Weed”

Colored Pencil On Paper 30"x22”

colors in vivid combinations that collectively synthesize her subjects. Belán fuses exotic animal and plants life with tropical hues and delicate surfaces that ignite a dreamlike sense of wonder.

Belán has an active role in one of the defining movements of our time, the E.R.A. -or Equal Rights Amendment-. Her involvement has gone as far as to donate one of her paintings to be used as the official image of the Virginia State E.R.A. campaign. In this painting, the Statue of Liberty holds the Equal Rights Amendment. "It is the official image for the campaign in Virginia to ratify the E.R.A., which will make the amendment the law of the land if ratified this November. It is expected to pass."

"During the four decades of my career as an academic and social issues activist, I have been producing art that brings attention to these issues. At this time, our Mother Earth is experiencing significant climate change problems aggravated to the point of being critical to her survival. I feel that artists have an obligation to fight for Mother Earth and plan to continue to create art that supports these vital issues. She is the only Mother we have, and she creates us out of her fertile body. We must pull all our forces together to act on her behalf. Many of my artworks, whether paintings, drawings, mixed or installations, are about social issues, and the use of

“Goddess Rhea of Crete Colored Pencil” Mixed on Paper, 48"x40”

color to create a certain mood or enhance a particular meaning always occurs. My colors are often intense, although the range and the nuances to convey a feeling depend on the subject matter. I try to capture and enhance the beauty of colors that Mother Earth creates.

My art has always been about the beauty, majesty, and omnipotence of our planet, Mother Earth, and about the myths, symbols, and legends through the centuries that have celebrated our planet as the divine Mother. My love for her and her beautiful animals and plants are always represented in my artworks. Whether they are created on an easel, as an installation, generated on the computer, as land art, or as performance art, these artistic expressions are always about her, the divine feminine, and about women that help preserve her, or help promote the well being of the planet and the beneficial matriarchal environments for all.

Cont. next page

“Pachamama” Acrylic On Canvas, 40”x30” “Viva La Vida” Colored Pencil On Paper, 30"x22”

“Mother Tree I” Acrylic On Canvas, 45”x34”

I have always been aware that the current patriarchal civilization is not treating our Mother Earth well. This attitude deeply damages the environment and ultimately endangers the whole planet – and the entire human race. There is a need today, more than ever, to pay attention to the leaders of the Climate Change movement, the scientific community, and the indigenous tribes. We must join our forces to save our planet as time is running out. I feel that the artists must vigorously represent these issues through their arts. I hope that I am doing my part and am inviting other artists to join

“Mother Tree II” Acrylic On Canvas, 45”x34”

this movement."

Kyra Belán's rich educational background has played a crucial role in shaping her artistic career. With a deep and proactive relationship to human development and social evolution, Belán faces her collective head-on and hopes for a progressive future where balance is stored in all aspects of life.

“Goddess Trinity Risingl” Colored Pencil on Paper, 28"x48”

1980

Limited Edition Award, WPBT Channel 2 TV, Miami, FL.

Gene Segal Award, WPBT Channel 2 TV Juried Exhibition, Metropolitan Museum and Art Center, Coral Gables, FL.

1982

Merit Award. Expressions! The 6th Annual Competition And Exhibition, Art and Culture Center of Hollywood.

1998

Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame Outstanding Achievement in the Arts, FL. Who’s Who in American Art, 23rd edition.

2005 1981

Cover Art of a special edition of The Miami Herald, Hooked on Hollywood, Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, Hollywood.

1986

International Woman of the Year, Cambridge, England

1999

Southeastern Art Conference Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement, U. of Arkansas at Little Rock

Third Place, Arts for Act Multi-Themed Juried Exhibition, Ft Myers, Fl, July 2008 Florida Achievement Award in the Arts, Women’s Caucus for Art Florida

2014

Special Merit Award, Animals Juried Competition, Light, Space, & Time Gallery, April.

2019

Honorable Mention Women in the Arts 2021, Heights Art Studios and Gallery, org. Museum of the Americas. TX, March.

2012

Special Merit Award, Botanicals Juried Competition, Light, Space, & Time Gallery, Jupiter, FL July.

2015

Artivist of the Year Award. 2019, Artya Awards with Artists for a Green Planet, NY.