Among the works included in Kandy G Lopez’s (b. 1987, Bayonne, New Jersey; lives and works in Fort Lauderdale) exhibition are four recently constructed large-scale fiber portraits, each depicting a friend or passerby with a striking sense of presence. As Lopez notes, “I paint the (in)visible and the vulnerable while showcasing their power.” The title of the exhibition considers the multiple meanings of the word caché, primarily focusing on its definition as a person with an intangible (or hidden) sense of commanding presence; in her own words, “Someone who has swagger.” To have caché is to exude a sense of power, however, what lies beneath this is often a desire to be seen in a space where one feels unacknowledged.

Emotions, expectations, and visibility are stored away for the comfort of others, hidden in a caché. Lopez explores the strength, power, confidence, and vulnerability of individuals through a variety of media. The artist, who is an Associate Professor and Program Director of Art + Design at Nova Southeastern University, intends for her work to help educate, communicate, and foster discourse around race and racism. Her woven textile portraits are a way for the artist to consider her own image as a female Afro-Dominican American and come to terms with the performed and adopted identities she and others create as a means of survival in today’s society.