CANDICE TAVARES is a wood artist born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, PA who came into her own as an artist her in Baltimore. Her art is a celebration of Black beauty, love and culture that highlights the diversity in our hair texture and styling as well as skin complexion. Candice was formally educated in engineering and pharmacy, but her true passion has always aligned with the freedom of creativity. She was encouraged to experiment with different mediums during Saturday morning art classes and introduced to woodworking while helping her dad build and fix furniture in his woodshop. Years later she was able to combine that knowledge and experience to develop a style of art that felt uniquely hers. Though woodworking has often been classified as a more masculine art form, she does not shy away from using it to depict images of softness and femininity. She sees her art as an opportunity to honor our history and resilience, while challenging the negative narratives about blackness that she sees perpetuated in healthcare and media. Her art is intended to remind viewers of their inherent beauty and value just as they are, just how God made them.