Artist Diaries: Finding inspiration in New York City

Breaking into the US art scene has been on my mind for a long time. It’s one thing to create work from your little studio in the west midlands that resonates locally but it’s another to dream of wanting your art to cross oceans and speak directly to Black culture in America. This made me realise that I need to understand the heartbeat of the culture out there. I needed to stand in front of the people, the art, the environment - feel the energy of the streets and let the city challenge where I’m taking my own practice.

So, I packed my bags for New York on a research trip, thanks to Arts Council England, who supported me with a grant to be able to carry out this amazing opportunity. The goal was simple: absorb as much culture, history and fine art as humanly possible, visit world-class institutions, and find the spark for my next era of work.

Walking Through History in Harlem

You can’t truly understand Black art in America without understanding Harlem and the incredible legacy of the Harlem Renaissance. That history was the main reason I knew I had to visit Harlem - I wanted to walk the streets where artists, writers, and thinkers redefined culture and paved the way for generations of Black creators.

Walking through Harlem gave me a deep sense of struggle but an even greater sense of pride. You can feel the resilience in the air. So many legendary figures have emerged from or were shaped by this neighbourhood such as Faith Ringgold, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Tupac Shakur, A$AP Rocky - the list goes on. Knowing that history was beneath my feet ( literally walking over the Walk of Fame right outside the historic Apollo Theatre) was an unforgettable moment. 

The walking tour enabled me to take in the architecture, the energy and the history embedded in every corner. I also got to visit the Studio Museum in Harlem which was amazing getting to see it in person and not on my phone-screen - the architecture is incredible.

While the selection on display wasn’t a lot, the artwork in that space held immense weight. What struck me immediately was the scale and the narrative. The works weren't just large - they were grand. They demanded space. They commanded the room.

Getting Lost in MoMA

I also visited Black-owned spaces like Tanya Weddemire Gallery and the architectural marvel of the Guggenheim but if you asked me what my favourite place to visit was, it would have to be  MoMA ( Museum Of Modern Art) - it completely took my breath away.

I could have spent hours in there. The variety and quality of the collection was overwhelming in the best way possible. Standing feet away from masterworks - including original Picasso and Van Gogh pieces made me so happy to finally experience up close and personal. I think I’d only ever seen prints of these works before, so to actually see the physical texture, depth and individual brushstrokes so close was amazing.

MoMA gave me pure, unfiltered inspiration. I found myself completely losing track of time and gave me that excitement and yearning to go back home and pick up a paint brush. 

The Realisation

My work has always been about representation - creating spaces where Black and brown women feel seen, celebrated and honoured in fine art... but this trip shifted something inside me. Seeing those grand-scale works in New York made me realise I’ve been thinking too small - literally and conceptually.

Moving forward, I want to go deeper. It’s not just about painting a striking portrait anymore; it’s about painting stories. Of course I’ll still do my portraits as representation will always be my core but building rich, narrative-driven pieces that carry history, emotion and cultural weight - aswell as  rendering them on a scale that forces you to stop, step back and really feel them - that’s what I’m working towards. 

New York gave me the clarity I was looking for. The vision is bigger, the scale is expanding and I’m ready to take these new ideas back to the canvas.