In her most recent series, a vivid exploration of mysticism and identity emerges through Isabella Mellado’s rich oil compositions. Drawing from tarot symbolism and the occult, the Puerto Rico-born, Chicago-based painter reinterprets the concept of moral flaws — not as burdens, but as vibrant expressions of human desire and authenticity. Through each brushstroke, the conventional lens of guilt is set aside, allowing these “sins” to radiate with power and purpose.
Mellado’s creative process often begins with ritualistic staging: cloaked figures gather by water or around flickering flames, hands grasping tarot cards or chalices, scenes that breathe with uncanny and sensual energy. These preliminary moments are transformed into large-scale canvases that shimmer with dreamlike enchantment. By centering identities often marginalized by religious doctrine, she presents an alternate reality in which yearning, appetite, and rest are not shunned but embraced as vital forces.
Her exhibition 7 Pecados at La Cometa in Chicago invites viewers into a realm where the taboo becomes triumphant, and masks grant anonymity that fuels bold self-expression. Echoes of her earlier show Te Dire Quien Eres resonate here, continuing her exploration of sacred kinship and queer belonging through intimate, transformative imagery. Mellado’s work poses a powerful question: what if we saw our transgressions not as shadows, but as aspects of our most vivid and essential selves?
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Lust (The Lovers)
Two of Wands
Pride (Temperance)
The High Priestess
Three of Cups
The Magician
Gluttony (The Emperor Midas)
Sloth
