When artist Nardiz Cooke appears on a Zoom screen, her brown, wavy hair cascades over the camera as she settles onto her couch. She’s in her Miami apartment, surrounded by stacks of books and walls covered with frames. In the far corner, quite literally on a pedestal, is a mask covered in black kyanite. The thermoplastic mask is typically used for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, but it’s taken on a new life in this setting.
In 2021, Cooke was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and has since been a patient at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Health System. It was during her treatment here that she turned to her art practice to seek solace and find her inner warrior.
The black mask on display in her home serves not only as a visual reminder of Cooke’s strength, but of her ongoing battle…