Curator and Producer

In August 2021, Natashia Betancourt curated and produced a unique immersive experience at nxt1, her former studio/gallery space in New York City. For three consecutive days, Miami-based painter Tierra Armstrong took over the space to create a new collection of paintings. From Friday, August 13th through Sunday, August 15th, visitors were invited to stop by the studio, engage with Tierra, and witness her creative process in real-time.

Tierra’s paintings depict figures in sacred, transcendent moments that blur the boundaries of space and time. Her work draws upon religious iconography, utilizing symbolic colors and light emanations to express the divine nature of Black bodies. She often explores the duality of feminine and masculine energies, irrespective of gender, reflecting the balanced nature of existence.

Influenced by her experiences in Mexico City and Chicago, Tierra’s work is also shaped by the self-determination of communities of color, which is evident in the murals she creates. Her paintings have been featured in numerous exhibitions, including Museo del Juguete Antiguo México, and in 2020, she was commissioned to create the first Black Lives Matter mural in Miami.

This project not only offered a rare glimpse into Tierra’s creative process but also fostered meaningful interactions between the artist and the public, creating a dynamic environment for both art creation and community engagement.