Donna
Coley-Trice

🌹Artist · Filmmaker · Poet

Paintings

Donna’s paintings celebrate spirituality, mysticism, and positive Black identity — from cosmic symbolism to reflections on history and self.

Thru Her EyeLuchie's BootsHeavenly SlumberRoses & LemonsMother NatureHeavenly KissFragmented Queen/WomanBest Friends ForeverThe Blood & the Living WaterSunshine FeelsThe RelationshipUndefeatedWisdom
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This colorful oil painting shows a beautiful woman viewing the world. She is shown with afro hair, locs and a colorful African head wrap. Woven into her locs is the Lotus Flower, Monarch Butterfly, and the Koi Fish. The Lotus Flower represents the beauty that can emerge from even the darkest and murkiest environment. The Monarch Butterfly represents beauty, transition and evolution of the spirit. The Koi Fish represents good fortune, perseverance in adversity and strength of purpose. The night sky is illuminated by a full moon that represents the mystery and romantic heart of a woman. The night sky transitions to a sunny day, with fluffy white clouds and the bluest sky above the sparkling Caribbean sea. The Sun is shown in her big, gold hooped earring, as it sits above the mountain tops, pyramids and cityscape.

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Inspired by a beautiful friend who lives life to the fullest.

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A loving family share blissful sleep.

', "roses-lemons": '

Life isn\'t all roses, sometimes we get lemons.

', "mother-nature": '

Beautiful Mother Nature looks lovingly at her infant child. Her eyes sparkle and she smiles with love for her creation. She is at one with nature and is surrounded by life in the form of animals and even a bumblebee.

', "heavenly-kiss": '<p>Inspired by Klimt\'s "The Kiss" and the poem "Heaven" by Donna Coley-Trice. Artist interpretation of Black love & passion.</p>' + '<br>' + '<h4>HEAVEN</h4>' + '<br>' + '<p>Sweet lips, warm kiss and gentle finger tips</p>' + '<p>Trace circles and lines, so divine, in the secret places they find</p>' + '<p>I am under his control, held in his invisible hold</p>' + '<p>Intoxicated by his smell, drowning in his magic, like some voodoo spell, but this is no hell</p>' + '<p>This…is…heaven</p>' + '<br>' + '<p>My mind is swimming and my passion for him is brimming</p>' + '<p>I am dancing inside as his hands like silk, slide</p>' + '<p>Down my neck, across my shoulders and then rest</p>' + '<p>Above my heart, upon my breast</p>' + '<br>' + '<p>I fall into the dark pools that are his eyes, like a sleepy child,</p>' + '<p>Mesmerized</p>' + '<p>Let this be the place where I die</p>' + '<p>For surely I am in heaven, in this hypnotic state</p>' + '<p>Oblivious to my fate, knowing only that this is where I want to be</p>' + '<p>And the only vision I want to see</p>' + '<br>' + '<p>Finally, I understand, I want only one thing…this man</p>' + '<p>And he…he wants me. It’s plain to see</p>' + '<p>By the fire in his eyes, in his heart and between his thighs</p>' + '<p>And the time he takes, to bring me pleasure, by any measure</p>' + '<p>And how he savors the riches of… my treasure</p>' + '<br>' + '<p>He smiles at me now as though he had heard</p>' + '<p>My thoughts ring out as clear as words</p>' + '<p>He kisses my lips and my neck and then moves down to my breast</p>' + '<p>And then…the rest…</p>' + '<p>Is Heaven.</p>' + '<br>' + '<p>Written by Donna Coley Trice © February 14, 2001</p>', "fragmented-queen": '

She comes in all shades and must be strong as steel. The mysteries of the universe exist in her natural hair. She is the sun and the moon, both day and night. The Ankh is the ancient African symbol for life. She is always praying and you see the flame — the power of prayer — between her hands.

', "best-friends-forever": '

Celebration of a lifetime transatlantic friendship.

', "blood-living-water": '

Reminding the distracted modern world of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

', "sunshine-feels": '

Imagine sunshine free of the harsh cotton fields and the crack of the whip.

', "the-relationship": '

Bonded by love… some relationships are stronger than blood.

', "undefeated": '

A tribute to all the brave survivors of domestic violence and the victims of femicide. Highlighting this horrific global phenomenon.

', "wisdom": '

Wisdom blends ancestral power, nature, and spirit into a unified portrait. Animal guardians symbolize strength, intuition, and vision. Holding a golden ankh, he embodies continuity and sacred knowledge.

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Film & Media

Donna co-founded Lens Ambition in Jamaica, where she co-wrote, produced, and acted in short films including Rolling Calf…Blood Invitation. She later launched her own series, Positively Jamaican, beginning with the documentary Barber for Life, which highlights the culture and community of Jamaican barbers. Her film work blends social commentary with storytelling, amplifying voices and traditions often left unheard.

About ME

I’m Donna Coley-Trice, a DC-based artist, poet, and filmmaker. For more than thirty years in Hillcrest, I’ve used story and symbol to honor Black identity and everyday sacredness. My paintings draw on African mythology and spirituality—moons and suns sharing the same sky, natural hair flowing into night and sea, and recurring emblems like the lotus, monarch butterfly, and koi that speak to growth, transformation, and perseverance. I’m interested in images that invite reflection and restore dignity: quiet power, tenderness, and resilience at the center. Recent work engages mental health, faith, and the lived experiences of women, including pieces confronting domestic violence. The same impulse runs through my film work: to witness, uplift, and spark positive change. Whether on canvas or on camera, I want the work to feel like possibility.

Bio

Donna Coley-Trice is a Washington, DC–based artist, poet, and filmmaker who has lived in the Hillcrest community for more than three decades. Her work centers positive Black imagery and explores African mythology, spirituality, and identity through symbolic narratives—natural hair merging with the cosmos, the sun and moon in dialogue, and recurring emblems such as the lotus, monarch butterfly, and koi. She co-founded Lens Ambition in Jamaica and co-wrote/produced the short film Rolling Calf… Blood Invitation; her solo documentary Barber for Life launched the ongoing Positively Jamaican series. Recent paintings engage themes of mental health, faith, and the resilience of women, including work addressing domestic violence. Across media, Coley-Trice’s goal is to inspire, educate, and spark positive change.

Contact Me

For art inquiries, collaborations, or speaking engagements.

Social Media