Saltwater
MOSES LEONARDO, Saltwater, Acrylic on canvas, 20 × 30 in
Intimate #2: Lover’s Embrace
MOSES LEONARDO, Intimate #2: Lover’s Embrace, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 36 × 36 in
Most of the world is not safe for us, but what I’m hoping is for more queer Haitians to be out, proud, and visible.
I am proud of both of my intersections and proud to be an example of a queer Haitian.
My art practice is deeply informed by Black queer culture and my upbringing as a first-generation American of Haitian descent. I spent my childhood eating sos pwa and thanking Bondye—my culture lived at home with me and walked out the door alongside me. Everything—except the tongue. My work acts as a bridge between the land of my blood and the person I’ve become through lived experience.
Moses Leonardo is an artist raised along the East Coast of the United States. They hold a BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Leonardo’s practice explores themes of sexuality, race, spirituality, love, and gender—creating work that navigates the complexity and tenderness of identity through a deeply personal lens.
Their work has been exhibited by Black Cherry magazine, Cierra Britton Gallery, and Vox Populi Gallery. Leonardo is part of the 2024 cohort of Good Black Art’s Beyond the Boroughs program.