Martinican, b. 1976 Born in France to a family from Martinique, Elizabeth Colomba is a New York-based artist who has redefined the Western canon by centering Black protagonists within historical and mythological narratives. A graduate of the Estienne School of Art and the Beaux-Arts in Paris, Colomba uses a classical, "Old Master" approach to figuration to restore a sense of sovereignty and grace to figures traditionally marginalized or erased by art history. Colomba’s work is characterized by its opulent detail and cinematic atmosphere, a skill honed during her time as a storyboard artist in the Hollywood film industry (contributing to films like A Single Man). This narrative precision culminated in her debut graphic novel, Queenie: Godmother of Harlem (2021), co-written with Aurélie Lévy. The work chronicled the true story of Stephanie St. Clair, a Martinican immigrant who rose to power as a legendary gang leader during Prohibition-era New York. Her paintings have been exhibited at prestigious institutions including the Musée d’Orsay, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). With a presence in the permanent collections of The Studio Museum in Harlem and Princeton University, Colomba continues to bridge the past and present, creating a new visual language for the African diaspora.