Lizards Embrace
Medium
PaintingMaterial
Mixed MediaDescription
Lizards Embrace by Florah Maphosa transforms fear into beauty, challenging cultural beliefs that often cast lizards as unsettling or ominous creatures. In many African communities, brightly coloured lizards are viewed with suspicion, associated with bad luck or spiritual danger. Maphosa flips this narrative entirely. The woman stands confident and composed, her back exposed like a canvas of power, while the vibrant lizard rests gently on her shoulder. Instead of threat, the lizard becomes a companion—an emblem of intuition, renewal, and the ability to adapt to one’s surroundings.
The luminous black skin, rich makeup, and flowing rainbow fabric amplify her presence, evoking both vulnerability and strength. Against the turquoise background embossed with soft floral motifs, the scene feels symbolic and dreamlike. Maphosa invites the viewer to question inherited fears and embrace misunderstood symbols with new meaning: connection, transformation, and inner courage.Try it!
