“Love Waits” (24 × 24) is a piece from the series called Protect Her Peace. A deeply personal collection that reflects the vulnerability Charlene has carried since childhood, as a Black woman growing up in Edmonton, Alberta. Through her paintings, she explores the assumptions, microaggressions and societal messages that say, “you are not enough”. This series is a visual sanctuary – an invitation for Black women to escape the constant pressure to prove their worth, and step into a world of peace and serenity.