‘Portrait of the Goblin Girl Next Door #2 (2022) and ‘Harlem Night’ (2023) by Taína Cruz, are characteristic of the artist’s basis in portraiture. As with much of Cruz’s practice, both works depict Black women through avatars that play with fantasy and the paranormal, balancing a mix of playfulness and wit. ‘Portrait of the Goblin Girl Next Door #2’ features one of the artist’s signature characters, whose elongated ears, piercing eyes, and textured skin set her apart as an otherworldly being. A peace emblem prominently displayed on her chest directly references harmony and co-existence. ‘Harlem Night’ adopts the stylized visual language of 1940s cartoons, using graphic, bold lines and monochromatism to create an alternative cityscape of Harlem. The drawing intermingles a variety of characters from glamorous to eerie, set against the backdrop of a luminous skyline and glowing moon. By blending reality with fantasy, Cruz reveals the facetted spirit of Harlem’s nightlife. Through these two works, Cruz continues her exploration of folklore, identity, and flexibility of style, with each piece offering a distinct approach to storytelling.