As I continue to grow as a skilled artist, I am open to learning new skills that add to my evolving portfolio. While attending the University of Cincinnati's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, I have learned to master technical illustration, abstract illustration, digital design, screenprinting, woodwork, and oil and acrylic painting.
In my previous work, I explored the shared experiences of being a black woman in America. I used oil paint and printmaking to interrogate the discourse surrounding black women and the systemic pressures we face. I explicitly spoke about struggles related to standardized beauty, hair, sexuality, and the pressure to assimilate to make other white counterparts comfortable. As my art evolves, I have moved beyond simply recounting my experiences to critically questioning them. I continue using the same techniques and experimentation with fabric, but my current themes center around the black female perspective framed within the realms of fantasy and Afrofuturism. My goal is to challenge the tendency of the female gaze to overlook black women in art by presenting them from a new viewpoint and pushing back against the traditional Western canon. Author Octavia Butler and artists Mickalene Thomas and Wangechi Mutu have inspired my work. This transition represents a commitment to injecting more diversity into the creative world, creating more transparent conversations about black women, and embarking on a healing journey for myself and others.
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