The Art Brigade featuring Melissa Casanova, July thru Sept 2025
Melissa Casanova is a Dominican-American artist whose bold, mixed-media paintings blend abstract realism with cultural storytelling. Her work explores themes of identity, resilience, and belonging through vibrant color, layered textures, and symbolic narratives. Rooted in heritage and guided by intuition, Melissa’s art invites viewers to dream bigger, feel deeper, and discover beauty in the unexpected.
To purchase art, scroll down to the form at the end of the page.
Special Offer: In celebration of this collaboration, we’re offering a 10% discount to anyone purchasing both a painting or print and a piece of pottery. Art and ceramics were made to be collected together and we can’t wait for you to enjoy both.
Her Paintings
Prints can be ordered of any painting at various sizes/prices. Contact Julie Sulik at [email protected] to request a print.
AwakeningIn Color, 2025
36″ x 48″ Oil on canvas gallery wrapped
Price: $4,800
Part of my new Heritage Dreams: Awakening series, “Awakening in Color” is about that moment when the world feels like it’s just opening its eyes.
The figure tilts her face toward the light, wrapped in black‑and‑white patterns, surrounded by tropical color and a single red hibiscus, a little nod to vitality, to heritage, to the things that make us come alive.
I wanted this piece to feel like that breath right before a new day begins — when everything feels dreamlike and full of possibility.
Taimautia, 2025
36″ x 48″ Oil on canvas gallery wrapped
Price: $4,800
Taimautia means “Good Morning” in Taíno — the first language spoken on the island that shaped my roots.
This painting is a love letter to that first light, when the day feels new and full of promise. A young woman sits in quiet strength, lemons balanced in her hand, a rooster perched on her shoulder.
I’ve always loved roosters — their colors, their confidence, the way they announce the day. Maybe it’s because they feel like both guardians and messengers — a reminder that every dawn carries a call to wake up, not just from sleep, but into ourselves.
This piece weaves that heritage, that ritual, and that feeling of awakening into bold color and textured layers — a work meant to brighten a room, spark conversation, and bring its own “good morning” into your home every day.
She Who Rises, 2025
36″ x 48″ Oil on canvas gallery wrapped
Price: $4,800
36×48” Oil and mixed media on canvas, gallery wrapped.
“She Who Rises” is a portrait of quiet power and awakening. A scarlet macaw sweeps across the canvas, wings open in motion, as if carrying the first light of morning.
The woman at the heart of the piece is steady and unshaken — she doesn’t wait for the day to greet her; she rises to meet it.
With its bold strokes of crimson, blush, and emerald, this painting is more than art — it’s an emblem of becoming. A reminder that every day holds the chance to rise into something greater, and every space deserves a piece that sparks that feeling.
“Morir Soñando” — to die dreaming, 2025
36″ x 48″ Oil on canvas gallery wrapped
Price: $4,800
This painting hums with the warmth of a Dominican morning. Oranges held close, parrots soaring above, laundry swaying on the line — fragments of memory layered into vibrant color and texture.
It’s a piece that doesn’t just hang quietly. It fills a space. It starts conversations. It invites you to pause, to dream, to bring that rush of color and energy into your own world.
The kind of art that transforms a wall into a story and a home into a place of inspiration.
Inner Paradise
26″ x 34″ Oil and mixed media on canvas, gallery wrapped.
Price: $4,690
Epitomizing this series, showcasing a profound connection with nature and heritage. This painting captures a serene moment under the lush canopies of the Dominican landscape, reflecting the tranquil inner peace that pervades even in the midst of vibrant life. Each stroke is a testament to resilience, a brush with the divine, and a nod to the tranquil moments where we find our truest selves.
Normal I want Magic
36″ x 48″ Oil and mixed media on canvas, gallery wrapped
Price: $4800
A vibrant ode to the extraordinary, a canvas where the mundane meets its match in the form of bold, audacious color and spirited expression. Inspired by the rich, untamed spirit of the DR, this painting captures the essence of breaking free from convention and celebrating the magic of the unknown.
Each stroke is a rebellion, a testament to the Maverick within us all, challenging you to step beyond the ordinary and embrace the vibrant chaos of life. It’s not just an artwork; it’s a philosophy, a lifestyle, and a call to explore the depths of our imagination and the heights of our dreams.
Perfect for those who dare to live vibrantly, this piece will bring a splash of bold inspiration to any space, reminding us that in a world of normality, the magic lies in the daring.
Spirit of Santo Domingo
36×38” Oil and mixed media on canvas, gallery wrapped.
Price: $4,380
Step into the vibrant streets of Santo Domingo with this evocative mixed media oil painting captures the essence of the Dominican Republic’s capital—a symphony of colors, sounds, and emotions that pulsate through its bustling markets and lively bodegas.
Each stroke embodies the rhythm of merengue and bachata that fill the air, the spirited chatter of the street vendors, and the aromatic allure of street food that defines the local cuisine. As dusk falls and the music intensifies, the painting invites you to feel the warmth of the tropical breeze and the vibrant life of Santo Domingo’s streets.
This work is more than a visual experience; it’s an invitation to explore the heart and soul of a city where every corner tells a story of heritage, celebration, and the undying spirit of its people.
Forgotten Voices
24×30” Oil and mixed media, gallery wrapped.
Price: $3,130
“Forgotten Voices” is a captivating piece that breathes life into the silent stories of the past. Through textured layers and a soul-stirring palette, this artwork evokes the quiet strength and resilience of those whose stories are not often told. With each stroke, I honor the unseen and unspoken, weaving a visual narrative that calls to the heart of the viewer, inviting them to listen closely and connect deeply with the whispers of history. Perfect for anyone who cherishes the profound narratives embedded in heritage and art.
Crimson Visionary
24×30” Oil and mixed media with gold leaf on canvas, gallery wrapped.
Price: $3,130
Drenched in the vibrant shades of crimson, this painting is a bold assertion of identity and legacy. This piece is a visual rebellion, challenging conventional portraits with its raw, emotive gaze and explosive color palette. Gold leaf accents dance across the canvas, adding a touch of the sacred to the chaotic beauty, symbolizing the treasured, sometimes turbulent connections to our past. It’s not just art—it’s a conversation about where we come from and the dreams that propel us forward, crafted for those who dare to see beyond the surface.
Guardian of Grace
18×24” Oil and mixed media on canvas, gallery wrapped.
Price: $1,870
A vivid tribute to Maria del Toledo, a historically significant yet often overlooked figure who shaped the early social and religious landscapes of the Dominican Republic. Maria was instrumental in establishing the first hospital in the Americas, a pioneering institution in Santo Domingo that provided care irrespective of race or class. Her efforts in enhancing social welfare and advocating for the marginalized underscore her formidable yet quietly executed influence.
The painting portrays Maria as a beacon of strength and dignity. Her commanding presence is reminiscent of the statue that stands in the plaza where I once dined, a silent yet powerful reminder of her enduring legacy. It invites you to reflect on the silent yet impactful roles that forge our cultural and personal identities, emphasizing the critical yet often unrecognized contributions of women in history.
Tropical Duet, 2023
16″ x 20″ Oil on canvas
Price: $250
Two scarlet macaws perch close together, their feathers a symphony of crimson, emerald, and cobalt. Tropical Duet captures the quiet conversation between them — a moment of connection alive with color and energy.
Perfect for adding a burst of tropical vibrancy to any space, this piece brings the warmth and spirit of the Caribbean into your home.
Radiant Mesa, 2023
16 in × 20 in Oil on canvas
Price: $200
Under a luminous moon, the mesa glows in layered bands of color — golden grasses, lavender shadows, and deep desert blues stretching into the horizon. Radiant Mesa captures the magic of the Southwest at dusk, when the light turns landscapes into living paintings.
Now in a private collection, this piece remains a reminder of that fleeting, glowing hour when the land feels both wild and dreamlike.
Solace Afloat, 2024
16 in × 20″ Oil on canvas
Price: $500 includes frame
Sailboats cut quietly through a sky-washed horizon, the sea shifting from soft turquoise to deep indigo beneath them. Solace Afloat captures that rare kind of peace you only find on open water — the steady wind, the gentle push of tide, and the world falling away in the distance.
Framed and ready to hang, this piece brings a sense of calm movement and coastal beauty into any space.
Ripples of Tranquility, 2023
16 in × 20″ Oil on canvas
Price: $500
A quiet moment captured in vibrant greens and golds — a frog resting among lily pads, water rippling softly around it. Ripples of Tranquility evokes the stillness of a pond at dusk, where the only movement is the faint shimmer of light and the gentle breath of nature.
Now part of a private collection, this piece remains a reminder that even the smallest scenes can hold the deepest calm.
Walk in the Park, 2024
Size: 20” x 24″, Mixed media and oil on canvas
Price: $250
“Walk in the Park” captures the way a simple stroll can awaken your senses — the blend of shifting light, soft skies, and the vivid surprise of blooms underfoot. Layers of color and texture mingle here, from mossy greens to blush pinks, creating a landscape that feels both real and dreamlike.
This piece brings the feeling of an unhurried afternoon into your space — a reminder to pause, breathe, and notice the beauty in the everyday.
Blooming, 2024
Size: 20″ x 24″, Oil on canvas
Price: $500
Blooming is a portrait of transformation — a face emerging through a cascade of petals and color, caught between softness and strength.
Brushstrokes shift from deep emeralds to flashes of crimson and blush, like spring itself unfurling on the canvas. There’s a quiet power in her gaze, an unspoken reminder that blooming is not just a season — it’s a state of becoming.
This piece brings both boldness and beauty to any space, inviting its collector to feel that same awakening each time they see it.
Twiggy, 2024
24″ x 24″, Acrylic on canvas
Price: $500
With her unmistakable doe eyes and striking gaze, Twiggy defined an era — and this portrait captures that iconic energy with a modern edge.
Vivid strokes of blush, coral, and gold bring a fresh vibrancy to her classic 1960s look, while subtle texture hints at the boldness and reinvention she represents.
Perfect for collectors who love fashion, pop culture, and statement art, Twiggy brings both nostalgia and style into any space.
Abstract, 2024
18″ x 24″, Oil on canvas
Price: $500
A cascade of bold color and layered texture, Abstract is a study in movement and emotion. Vivid magentas and cobalt blues drift into soft neutrals, while drips and marks add a sense of spontaneity — as if the painting is still shifting and alive.
This piece brings instant energy to a room, a vibrant reminder of how color alone can stir the senses and transform a space.
Veil of Light
18″ x 24″, Oil on canvas gallery wrapped
Price: $1,250
Veil of Light is a meditation on stillness and illumination. The figure’s eyes are closed, her expression serene, as if she’s caught in that fleeting space between shadow and radiance.
Brushstrokes of warm gold, deep crimson, and soft ivory drift across the canvas like light breaking through a curtain, casting the subject in both mystery and grace.
This piece isn’t just painted — it feels breathed into being, offering collectors a moment of quiet reflection and timeless beauty for their space.
