In Aludria
Mindy Solomon is pleased to present In Aludria, Lanise Howard’s third solo exhibition with the gallery. Continuing with her tradition of masterful storytelling and graphic imagery, Howard explores a new body of work through an Afro-futurist lens. Afro-futurism is a cultural aesthetic and philosophy that blends African diasporic culture with science fiction, fantasy, and technology to reimagine the past, present, and future — fostering Black identity, liberation, and empowerment through art.
Howard writes: “I am interested in creating an analogous world where hidden histories, personal allegories, and multiple periods of time merge. My work ranges from portraiture to large-scale allegorical figurative paintings and often exists between differing states of being. Through paint, I aim to construct spaces that allow the viewer to become transported.
This world began as a reimagining of narratives in which Black figures are thriving — adapting like chameleons, ebbing and changing with each new challenge. It is a space of possibility, where change itself becomes a central element. Through engagement and inquiry, I present ideas while offering room for reflection and response.
I am primarily interested in the figure and the landscape. Realism and abstraction are juxtaposed as I search for both the tangible and the intangible. This push and pull between inner and outer space is rendered through paint to offer a glimpse into the in-between, beyond what we typically see.
Domestic scenes converge with surreal landscapes, creating new ways of viewing. Figures may appear angular, with references to historical compositions and sculpture. Flora and fauna are arranged in unconventional, often discordant ways. Recent works reflect a growing experimentation with color and composition. Recurring narratives — such as the afterlife, ancestral realms, and acts of honoring those who came before us — have come to the forefront, alongside explorations of Black female beauty, the divine feminine, and the Diva. Some works remain grounded in this reality, while others reside more fully within the dreamed space. Through this investigation, I continue to reach toward the in-between and the analogous, seeking ways to construct it materially.”
With a focus on portraiture and delicately rendered landscapes, flora, and fauna, Howard once again demonstrates why she is one of the preeminent painters of Black storytelling today.
About Lanise Howard
Lanise Howard is a visual artist who received her BFA from Otis College of Art and Design, working mainly in paint and mixed media. Howard was born in Southern California and raised partially in New York State. Her earliest years were spent from El Centro, CA to Los Angeles, and the unique environments of both have shaped the way she sees the world. Her work is usually figurative, often narrative, with a surrealistic quality as well as a spiritual feeling that is often embodied. Previous work has been focused on censorship and assimilation, lost narratives, and hidden histories. Howard is interested in various topics such as the esoteric, sacred geometry, ancient belief systems, the current digital world, and her experience as a woman of color. Recently she has been moving towards a fusing of these many inspirations and hopes to future investigate these phenomena in her work.
Howard has had solo exhibitions at Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL (2021, 2023, 2026); Pray Delavallade Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2024); Monti-8 Gallery, Latina, Italy (2022); Seasons Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (2022); Oof Project Space, Los Angeles, CA (2021); and Sola Contemporary (2018). She has participated in group exhibitions at The California African American Museum, in collaboration with Art and Practice, Los Angeles, CA (2026); The Torrence Art Museum, Torrence, CA (2025); Art House Mx, Mexico City (2024); Range Projects, Los Angeles, CA (2024); Mindy Solomon Gallery, Miami, FL (2023, 2022); Albertz Benda, Los Angeles, CA (2023); Bode Projects, Berline, Germany (2023); Kutlesa Gallery, Switzerland (2022); Destinee Su”on-Ross Gallery, New York, NY (2020); Blum and Poe, Los Angeles, CA (2020); and The Brea art Museum, Brea, CA (2019) among other spaces. Her work can be found in collections such as The Bunker Art Space in Palm Beach, FL, and the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, CA.
