Nicoletta Daríta de la Brown Panamanian-American, b. 1981 Baltimore-born NYC raised
(she/they)
award-winning interdisciplinary artist and curandera chamána (shamanic practitioner). Her artworks re-conceive the life of an artist as thriving, nourishing others during and through her art practice, while healing herself in public space as a Black-Latiné woman.
1980's
Little her danced every day. She put on her fancy dress to play. They knew they were magic. Growing up in Brooklyn and Harlem, she would visit the corner bodega almost daily — enter with handful of loose change; leave with what felt like priceless treasure. She learned how to love and heal in her abuelita’s kitchen. [image: Age 3, 1984, with her mamá, Damariz Zuelieka, b. 1954 Panama]
1990's
Art is their first language — Accepted to both Duke Ellington and Baltimore School For The Arts, she decided to attend BSA. More than just a high school, it became home and sanctuary. After graduation, she went on to study filmmaking and sculpture at School of Visual Arts and Maryland Institute College of Art. [image: Age 18, 1999, graduation day at Baltimore School For The Arts]
2000's
Her doctor told her that she couldn’t have children. Well, ten months later she gave birth to her first child — and then again after that, every other year, three more times. Being a mama of four is the greatest gift she ever received. To her, the beautiful part is that parenting them is loving little her too. A timeless and boundless love; healing both the visible and invisible. [image: Age 23, 2004, holding her newborn]
2010's
She poured herself into her plant-medicine practice and emoted through creating artworks in her studio. Became a sculpture professor at Towson University, adjunct faculty in the MFA in Community Arts Graduate Program at Maryland Institute College of Art, and Mindfulness in Art instructor at Baltimore School For The Arts. — Later, going on to become Artist in Residence at BSA [image: Age 33, 2014, performing “Yo Vengo de Panamá” at ARTSCAPE as performance artist]
2020's
Performances and exhibitions of their video artworks and mixed-media sculptural installations have been presented nationally in galleries and museums — such as, The Phillips Collection, Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, The Walters Art Museum, Tribeca Film Festival. [image: Age 40, 2021, self portrait in studio]
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