Produced by Frank Giella & TAYLOR & PONCE CONTEMPORARY
Gallery Hours: 5h-12th, 2 PM -6 PM | Taylor & Ponce Contemporary Art
Address: 4W 43rd Street, Suite 416 – 4th Floor, New York, NY – 10036
How does one encapsulate the momentary knowledge of who they are? Is it through the wayward fleet of emotion, ineffable through its obscurity? Or is it through the reflection of all which we once was or will be? Margarita Howis makes an astute choice in her expression of the only thing we ever really are: the present.
The Currency of Identity is an exhibit which showcases the paradox at the center of aesthetics; these works ponder the tension between physical beauty and aesthetic experience. We know there exists a multiplicity of tastes, but covertly privilege our own as the best, functioning as clandestine absolutists. This collective betrayal to a feedback loop of expectations in our evaluations of beauty results in algorithmic transactionality we all subconsciously strive to achieve. In such, our self, the collection of experiences, deeply personal and unique, become commodified to the beholder.
The layering of synchronicities onto portraiture of physical beauty confounds the beholder in a spiritual viewership. Howis acts as a steward to authenticity and vulnerability. Each piece is a bridge between being seen and being understood. A bridge on which the viewer is challenged to choose direction. The canvas does not give an answer to direction, rather show you the possibilities beyond the choice you make. Howis confronts the viewer with a question: What does identity cost when you’ve built it from nothing?
Inspired by urban culture, a background in architecture and design, and a selfless voyage in global education, Margarita Howis has created a collection which pedestalizes rebellion. Unconforming brushstrokes draping around glowing heroic portraiture facilitates a dialogue around the weight of individualism. Perfection is unabsolved as it is embraced by erosion of time. Each piece is unapologetically present, immediate, and urgent. The appearance of multiples through glitch-like frames of the subject position a holographic truth of identity. It is the dynamism of value and the virtue of perspective—the world of us, and us of the world.
A color story tells us the pain of vulnerability and acceptance of maxims, none other than your own.
It is hard to possess yourself and deal with the consequences of independence. Hues of radiance echo from the skin of each figure, like an aura of self discovery. A vertiginous creep of paint down the canvas, orbiting the essence of divinity—creation— is the feeling of time passing like quicksand in a moment of ever so rare genuine, human connection quantified by The Currency of Identity.
Gabriela Sartan
Art Writer & Poet
@gsartan
About the Artist
Margarita Howis is an internationally recognized artist whose work transcends traditional art, fusing self-empowerment, cultural connection, and bold storytelling. Having lived in seven countries, she brings a global perspective, creating art that challenges conventions, celebrates authenticity, and inspires transformation. Her journey from architecture to fine art was a radical act of self-reinvention, driven by a need to express the raw beauty of identity, resilience, and human emotion.
At the core of Margarita’s work is her ability to portray deep, unfiltered emotion. She steps beyond conventional beauty, capturing vulnerability, strength, and the raw essence of the human experience. Each piece is not just a portrait but a story—of power, resilience, love, and self-discovery. Whether through the piercing gaze of her subjects or the layered abstraction of their emotions, Margarita’s paintings invite viewers into a world where art becomes a mirror of the soul.
Her distinctive style blends realism with experimental abstraction, incorporating fluid brushwork, mixed media, and sustainably sourced 23K gold and silver—symbolizing strength and individuality. She has exhibited internationally in New York, Miami, Paris, Copenhagen, Cancun and Montreal, expanding her reach through large-scale murals and collaborations in fashion and music. Her work has been collected by artists like Offset, Jason Derulo, DaniLeigh, and AQUA, reinforcing her deep connection to hip-hop and contemporary culture.
Margarita’s art stands as a voice for empowerment, especially for women and underrepresented communities. Beyond galleries, she partners with global initiatives, as United Nations, using her work to tell untold stories and spark meaningful conversations. With each piece, she continues to push boundaries, blending art, fashion, and activism to create a lasting cultural impact.
Mural created for NOOM, a visionary residence complex in Cancun. Titled “Embracing Differences, Building One Tribe, Mexico