ESTHER CALIXTE-BEA APPROACHES ACRYLIC PAINTING IN A FIGURATIVE AND REALIST WAY, WHICH OVER TIME SEEMED TO HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO A FORM OF ABSTRACTION. SHE EXPLORES THEMES SUCH AS THE BEAUTY IN DARKNESS, THE DARKNESS IN BEAUTY AND THE SIMPLICITY IN THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE IN. SHE PAINTS BLACK WOMEN WITH FACES AND BODIES RESEMBLING DOLLS, FURTHER DRAWING TOWARDS REALISM. HER WORK ALSO DEALS WITH SUBJECTS SUCH AS FEMINISM, DEATH AND BEAUTY. SHE PREFERS TO EXPLORE IDEAS AS A BROAD CONTEXT AND NOT BE TOO SPECIFIC AND OBVIOUS IN THE MEANING OF HER WORK, WHICH GIVES FREEDOM FOR INTERPRETATION. MORE RECENTLY, FEMALE BODY HAIR AND BEAUTY STANDARDS HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT TOPIC IN HER WORK AND CONTINUES TO BE SO.