TRONJA
 
 Anglero_210611#1, 6/11/21, 9:42 AM,  8C, 9000x12000 (0+0), 150%, Repro 2.2 v2,  1/25 s, R62.5, G34.5, B53.8
 

Figurative paintings exploring the presence, resilience, and legacy of women of color—where beauty, history, and symbolism converge.

 

Return to the Studio — 2026


After a year shaped by life, loss, and birth, I’m returning full-time to the studio and beginning new bodies of work..

Collection of Work

 Anglero_190812#1, 8/12/19, 3:46 PM,  8C, 9000x12000 (0+0), 150%, Repro 2.2 v2,  1/30 s, R54.8, G30.0, B51.1

Fine Art Prints

 

COMMISIONED

PORTRAITS

Created to capture presence, story, and individuality”

CHER-TRONJA.jpg

 A commissioned portrait is a collaborative process—an opportunity to create something deeply personal and lasting. My work centers on the experiences and presence of women, often drawing from history, identity, and adornment to shape each composition.

These portraits are not direct translations of a photograph. Through color, form, and subtle symbolism, I build layered imagery that speaks to both individuality and a broader narrative—resulting in work that feels expressive, intentional, and enduring.

Signature Portrait (Head & Shoulders)

These portraits focus on the face and upper body, offering a more intimate and direct interpretation of the subject. The emphasis is on expression, tone, and subtle detail—allowing presence to come through in a quiet, concentrated way.

While more minimal in composition, these works still carry elements of my visual language through color, gesture, and form, creating a balance between simplicity and depth.

Created from professionally captured reference images, this approach allows for clarity and precision while maintaining an expressive quality within the final painting.

  • 24 × 18 inches and up

  • One subject (head and shoulders)

  • Created from approved high-resolution photography

  • Starting at $2,000

Narrative Portrait (Full Composition)

These works extend beyond traditional portraiture, allowing space for story, symbolism, and layered meaning. Rooted in themes of women’s experiences, history, and adornment, each composition is developed to hold both presence and narrative.

Figures are often styled with intentional elements—pattern, form, and gesture—creating a balance between strength, vulnerability, and visual tension. The result is a portrait that feels both personal and expansive.

The process begins with a conversation, where we explore the tone, energy, and direction of the piece. From there, I guide the development of imagery—considering styling, composition, and atmosphere—to support the final painting.

  • Larger scale, full or partial figure

  • May include symbolic elements, fashion, or environmental detail

  • Developed through consultation

  • Starting at $4,000

The Process

Each commission begins with a conversation to understand the subject, tone, and overall direction of the piece.

From there, we review or develop reference imagery that supports the final composition. Once the direction is confirmed, a deposit secures your place and the painting begins.

Throughout the process, the work evolves with careful attention to form, color, and presence, leading to a final piece that reflects both the subject and the intention behind it.

  • Inquiry

  • Conversation

  • Image and concept development

  • Painting process

  • Completion and delivery

Each portrait is created as a fine art piece and is not intended to be a direct replication of a photograph. Interpretation is an essential part of the process.

High-quality reference images are required for all commissions, as they directly influence the final result.

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your commission. Lead times typically range from 8–10 weeks, depending on the scope of the work.

A limited number of commissions are accepted each year.

If you’re interested in a commissioned portrait, I’d love to hear more about your idea.

Making a difference

Helping women recognize, harness and utilize their talents.

 

Tronja is a Washington, DC–based figurative artist whose work examines the visibility, memory, and constructed narratives surrounding women of color. Working across painting and mixed media, she builds layered compositions that merge historical reference with imagined presence—creating figures that exist simultaneously within and beyond time.

Her visual language draws from a background in fashion illustration, where form, pattern, and adornment are used not as decoration, but as structure and meaning. Elongated bodies, saturated palettes, and textured surfaces create a tension between elegance and distortion—inviting viewers to reconsider what is seen, what is concealed, and what has been historically redefined.

At first encounter, the work presents itself through beauty and vibrancy. On closer inspection, each piece reveals a quieter disruption—gesturing toward histories of absence, resilience, and reinvention. These figures are not passive subjects; they occupy space with intention, holding both vulnerability and authority.

Tronja’s practice operates as both reflection and re-authorship—reframing inherited narratives and offering new visual legacies rooted in complexity, dignity, and presence.

 
 
 

Press

~ Vital Voices Unveils Portrait of Kamal Harris on Future Headquarters

https://www.vitalvoices.org/2021/01/kamala-harris-portrait/
By Alyse Nelson on the Vital Voices Podcast

~ Local Artist Ascending

https://issuu.com/frontporchfredericksburg/docs/fpfapril2021/25
By Tom Conway 

 

 

Exhibitions

2025

Mid-Atlantic Regional Show: McGuffey Art Center

GIFT OF LIFE: Artists & Makers Rockville MD

2024

Wallmountables: The DC Art Center Washington DC

Flora - WCADC -Mattawoman Creek Art Center-Marbury, MD

2023

SEEN: Viewing the works of African American Artists of Fredericksburg - Fredericksburg Area Museum Fredericksburg

Our Voices Carry Weight - WCADC

What do you see when you look at me - Popcorn Gallery Glen Echo

Juneteenth - Germana College Fredericksburg

2022

Celebrating Black Artist - FCCA Gallery

We who dream know no borders - WCADC

2021

The Tropic of Color - Vestige Gallery Pittsburg Pa

Changing the world - Women Role Models - Washington DC “BEST IN SHOW”

Artist Choice - FCCA Gallery VA

All planet earth - Virtual

Artist Choice - FCCA Gallery VA “HONORABLE MENTION”

2020

Regional Juried Exhibition - Hill Center Galleries Washington DC

Art of Protest UUFF Gallery VA

Faces & Figures - FCCA VA

2019

March150 - Torpedo Factory VA

Group Exhibition - Community Bank of Chesapeake VA