Maracuyá – Valerie Camila

Maracuyá – Valerie Camila

Maracuyá – Valerie Camila

Maracuyá (passionfruit, in English) tells a fictional story about two hesitant women of colour on a walk during the last day of their relationship. Using the aesthetics of filmology, each painting explores the mental hesitations and emotional intricacies present in lesbian experiences. The cinematic flow of the works takes place over the course of one day. It is a long walk that begins in the morning and ends at night, allowing light ephemera to inform the narrative. The paintings are both commanding and quiet, embodying the characters as they navigate desire, identity, connection, and acceptance.

This narrative series of paintings encourages subjective interpretations, turning viewers into co-authors of the work as they experience it. The pieces find their power in vulnerability by stressing unspoken emotions in portraiture alongside setting. Inspired by Lethbridgian landscapes, Maracuyá places queer stories at the forefront against the backdrop of Southern Alberta.

Special thanks to Wyatt Culley and to Janet Logwe for their creative contributions to Maracuyá, and to the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation for their generous support towards the realization of this project.

Valerie Camila is a Colombian-Canadian artist who works in painting, drawing, and animation. Her practice embodies narrative, explorations of queer intimacy, and interrelationships. Recently, Valerie has been working through hand-drawn, frame by frame animation, investigating labour-intensive textures, and prolonging momentary scenes.

She holds an Honours BFA and a Certificate in Media Studies form Queen’s University and is currently an MFA candidate at Goldsmiths, University of London, in England where she lives and works. In 2023 and 2025 Valerie received the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant, and in 2024, she was awarded the Andre Bieler Prize.

Maracuyá Statement (Letter):

Paulie,

On our walk together, we saw the pieces of us set in fey. I want to apologize. I can never express myself the way I want to. I only write to you now so you know what I saw.

The sun moved alongside us that day. There was a hesitancy in the air as our conversations slowly confirmed what we already knew.

I’m sorry. You peeled yourself apart for me, and over time, our love became overripe. And I got used to it. I didn’t notice how the taste had changed. It was hard to let you go. I kept running my hands along the slates of those fences, trying to find a latch. We could’ve kept walking if I found its gate sooner. As we walked the weight of our memories split us open and spilled us out. If I were to walk back along that path, would we find our cores scattered along the pavement?

The sun was blazing in my eyes, but I could still see the coulees behind you. The sky looked so much bigger.

Tan solo la pared de atrás y el sol delineando cada detalle, me imagino como me has visto.

I hope you’re doing okay.

I love you still,

Maracuyá

Date:June 13th, 2026  -  August 21st, 2026

Location:Casa - Main Gallery

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