Reflections from a Black Woman Artist

Art is more than decoration — it’s a mirror.

As a Black woman artist, I am fully aware of how rare it is to see people who look like me in galleries or framed and hanging beautifully in someone’s living room. Representation in art doesn’t just influence how others see us — it shapes how we see ourselves.

When I began creating, I didn’t set out to make a statement. I was simply painting what felt natural to me: Black women with natural hair, dark skin, full lips, beauty, strength and softness too. However, over time i've realised that in doing this, I am actively disrupting centuries of erasure.

What Happens When We Don’t See Ourselves in Art?

When we grow up seeing Eurocentric beauty and identity idealised everywhere - in fashion, on billboards, in museums - it tells us, silently but constantly, that we are not good enough. That we’re an afterthought or only worthy of being portrayed through the lens of struggle and hardship. 

This is why I paint Black and brown women - to affirm us. To celebrate us. To honour the richness of our skin tones, the textures of our hair, the curve of our noses and the beauty in our eyes. I don’t paint us for anyone’s approval or validation. I paint us in our truth - with tenderness, with fierceness and with freedom.

Representation isn’t just about showing up. It’s about being seen in full complexity. I want people to see joy, vulnerability, sensuality, calm, defiance — all of it! We deserve to take up space in every room, gallery and home.

That’s why it means the world to me when someone buys my art and tells me how much they connect to the piece but they’re not just wall art. They’re reminders. They’re Anchors!

💭 What I Hope You Take From This

If you’re someone who supports Black artists or buys Black art, know that what you’re doing isn’t just aesthetic — it’s political. It’s healing and it’s needed.

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