We are more than the color of our skin.  Who we are inside and what we do are so much more, yet we’re often instantly judged on this one small detail.  In his current series, Puerto Rican born artist Edgar Sanchez Cumbas explores in paint and mixed media the idea of discrimination based on skin color.

We often begin our lives being teased for what makes us different– maybe our skin is pale thanks to a Celtic heritage or perhaps we’re on the other end of the flesh color spectrum and feel excluded due to a complexion much darker than our contemporaries.  Instead of embracing the beauty in our diversity, in our longing to belong we ostracize.  We lose the ability to see not just see beyond color but to see all color as equal and equally beautiful.

Sanchez Cumbas explores these ideas through his sculptural paintings, the artist builds up thick layers of color and texture, which are then obscured by a large swath of color.  Only small hints at the layers beneath remain visible.

To see more of Edgar Sanchez Cumbas’ work, please visit his website.

All images are via the artist’s website.