Lipstick Lover

Mbali Shabane, Lipstick Lover (2023)

This unconventional painting, Lipstick Lover, celebrates the freedom of choice. Two Black women lie on their backs at opposite ends of the canvas, their gaze meeting across the space. Draped in white sheets, they share a private, intimate moment. The painting has no designated "right-side-up", inviting viewers to engage with the scene from any angle, mirroring the themes of empowerment and determination.

Lipstick Lover aims to increase representation of Black queer women in contemporary art. This scene is depicted in a non-dramatized way, focusing on the tenderness and intimacy of the relationship.