Melissa Lyn is a Jamaican Illustrator and Fine Artist. She creates portraits using ink, graphite, colored pencils and paper. Melissa's work is inspired by research in the bible and African history. 

Her bold, stylized illustrations reimagine ancestors and their descendants, transcending in time. By using a combination of selective colors, symbols and images, Melissa redefines her portraits to tell these stories about her ancestors, by sharing the similarities in their characteristics and experiences.

"People exist as biological numeric algorithms. Historical names are spiritual creation concepts. Each adapts to its time. Etymologically, all these identities, “African, Negro, Caribbean” etc. prove historically that we are the same people, who broke up into various tribes. The traditions and customs based on historical influences may be different, but without a doubt or contradiction, we are who our ancestors were." 

"The “proverb and byword” narratives in colonial discourse by people of African descent towards their own race, has resulted in Negroes all over the globe to assimilate into segregation; thus severing ties between powerful nations of people who were once a unified, indomitable force. This has resulted in a malicious misrepresentation of their identities, whereby such peoples have become the victims of perpetual genocides, rape, poverty, cultural appropriations, natural resource wars, replacement, and displacement theology."

"Pieces such as Reimagining Nanny, Reimagining Christ, Channeling Maasai and Reimagining Cudjoe, all illustrate a correspondence between the Most High and His people throughout different cultures."

"I’m passionate about using my work to help guide myself and others who are on a path to discovering their roots, identity, and purpose."