A story of joy, struggle, and the connective power of New Haven

New Haven, Connecticut has long been a place where paths cross—where people arrive, find community, pursue knowledge, and move forward. New Haven isn’t so far from New York City. And it isn’t as suburban as you’d think. It’s quite urban. And you’ll be surprised to know that the New Haven art scene is quite vibrant too. It’s got a lot of cultural overlaps with New York city.

I was reminded of this recently during the opening reception of my exhibition in New York.

The room was buzzing, but noticeably, there were very few people of color in the crowd. Then she walked in—graceful, thoughtful, and observant. After a while, she approached me and said, “Thank you for putting us on the walls.”

Joy in the Midst of Struggle

We began to talk. She shared that she had gone to college in New Haven at Yale and loved her time there. The diversity. The people. The cultural energy.

Now, in graduate school at the outskirts of New York, she felt out of place. Disconnected. She’d recently moved and was still in the process of finding her footing. Yet, something in my work sparked joy for her. A sense of home. A feeling of belonging.

That conversation stayed with me.

A Historical Parallel

When I was invited to create a piece for the Ely Center of Contemporary Art’s fundraising auction, I started researching its origins. I learned about Dr. and Mrs. Grace Ely—both born in New York, but were ultimately drawn to New Haven.

Dr. Ely left the “rush and bustle” of New York to pursue a more meaningful life in New Haven. A quote in this book described it this way:

“The distractions of New York were many and increasing, the spirit of materialism was widely pervasive, and the life of the scholar which was his choice was not easily to be maintained in the rush and bustle which he might not escape.”

So, when the opportunity to return to Yale as the Chair of Medicine arose, he embraced it, finding fulfillment in a life of learning and service in New Haven. Ultimately, he and his wife made New Haven their home.

After the devastating loss of her husband, Mrs. Ely found joy through generosity—turning her personal grief into a gift for the artistic community by transforming their home into an arts center. The similarities between this story and that of the woman I met in New York wasn’t lost on me. They are both connected by these two places. And she too had found a moment of joy in my work, in the midst of personal struggles navigating the challenges of relocation and disconnection.

The Making of The New Haven Art Piece

The young woman’s story and Mrs. Ely’s generosity share a truth: joy doesn’t require a life free of struggle. It often emerges because of it. These intertwined experiences—of searching, struggling, and ultimately finding joy—are at the heart of The New Havener. 

Moreover, this idea—of New Haven as a place where people arrive, grow, and radiate outward into the world—inspired The New Havener. The circular shapes in the piece reflect how lives converge in New Haven before radiating outwards in different directions. Some people stay and build legacies; others carry their experiences with them to new places.

In The New Havener, I depict a woman who embodies this spirit of connection, joy, struggle, and excellence. She reflects the young woman I met in New York and the many people who have found joy in New Haven. Through this piece, I honor the city as a multicultural hub where the pursuit of excellence is interwoven with the feeling of belonging.

A Rare Opportunity for New Haven Art

I create only a few original works each year—and as many of you know, they tend to sell quickly.

The New Haven art piece is now available exclusively through the Ely Center’s fundraising auction. This is your chance to collect a unique piece that tells a powerful story of resilience, community, and the joy found through New Haven.

👉 Get your Tickets and Bid on The New Havener

Thank you for reading,

Clara Nartey
Textile Artist & Visual Storyteller of Black Joy