Categories: Black History & Culture,
Heath Gallery proudly presents Still Here: The Art of Phoebe Ploom, a stirring exhibition that opened October 10 and runs through November 1, 2025. Located at 24 W. 120th Street in Harlem, the gallery invites visitors to experience Ploom’s deeply evocative “heritage paintings” – mixed-media works that explore African American history, memory, and resilience.
Phoebe Ploom, a registered nurse and painter, began her artistic journey in 2011, drawing from her experience as a psychiatric nurse to develop a visual language rooted in reflection and healing. Her work reaches across generations, honoring the lives of the enslaved, those who endured the long legacy of systemic oppression, and the everyday rhythms of Black life. “My art is the custodian of who we are and who I am,” Ploom states, underscoring the personal and communal significance of her practice.
The exhibition features bold colors, layered symbolism, and folk-inspired renderings that speak to the endurance of Black culture in the face of erasure. At a time when historical narratives are being rewritten and cultural expression suppressed, Still Here stands as both a visual testament and an act of resistance. Ploom’s paintings do more than depict—they bear witness. Each canvas is a portal into lived experience, a reclamation of stories that demand to be seen and remembered.
Still Here is part of Heath Gallery’s ongoing commitment to showcasing voices that affirm Harlem’s role as a global cultural influencer. By providing a platform for artists like Ploom, whose stories might otherwise go unheard,the gallery continues its mission to uplift narratives that challenge, inspire, and transform.
Visitors to the exhibition will find themselves immersed in a space where history and hope converge. Ploom’s art invites contemplation, conversation, and connection. It is a reminder that despite attempts to silence or erase, Black stories endure. They are still here.
For more information about the exhibition and upcoming events, visit Heath Gallery’s website or stop by the gallery during open hours go to: www.heathgallerynewyork.com
