Artist Rakiba Lanise

This piece was inspired by “summer” in Michigan and my need for vitamin D that is no longer good for me.

Island-rooted. Detroit-raised. Diaspora-inspired.

June is Caribbean American Heritage Month, and Artist Rakiba Lanise honors the island roots that flow through her creative voice — St. Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda.

Her mixed media work carries the language of the Caribbean: bold color, layered texture, ocean rhythm, spiritual symbolism, geometry, movement, beadwork, shells, gold, fabric, and ancestral memory. Each piece becomes a visual conversation between land, water, womanhood, culture, and the Black diaspora.

From vibrant triangular patterns that echo flags, architecture, and island textiles, to mermaids, cowrie shells, butterflies, florals, gold leaf, and sacred adornments, Rakiba’s art reflects both beauty and belonging. Her work is not just decorative — it is a map of memory, migration, resilience, and joy.

The influence of St. Kitts & Nevis and Antigua & Barbuda can be seen in her use of saturated island color, coastal imagery, rhythmic pattern, and layered materials that feel both handmade and ancestral. Her art reminds us that heritage is not something we only inherit. It is something we build, protect, remix, and pass forward.

This month, Rakiba Lanise celebrates the Caribbean as source, spirit, and creative compass.

From the islands to Detroit, the story continues in color.




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