As I get older, it becomes more apparent that we have forgotten how to feel. We bottle up our emotions and hide them away because we are afraid to face the truth. We are afraid to face ourselves. Somewhere along my journey, I fell into a cycle where it felt better to ignore my problems than to assess them. Now, I create art that challenges both myself and viewers to question themselves and their identities. I use my art as a microscope that helps me look within for answers and I offer my art to others as an invitation to open their hearts and do the same. Especially to those that share the gift of being black, I remind them that they are not the narratives fed to them by society. They deserve to be loved, they deserve to heal, and they deserve to be seen. In my art, beautiful black bodies come second to none. In this artistic space, these bodies, and faces are allowed softness and freedom. They are human souls who experience life, pain, and trauma the way that we all do. I believe that healing has the power to save generations, and I will continue to emphasize this message in all of the art that I create. I plan to make a positive impact on the world by creating art that encourages others to be kind to, patient with, and thankful for the bodies they were blessed with. If more people took the time to celebrate themselves and their communities, there would be less pain in the world. As a result, I compose my art as a moment of pause where viewers are urged to take a moment to reassess and think about who they are and how they can be better.

“How do Black men heal?” explores a question that I’ve contemplated for a long time. Who do you go to for help when you are perceived as a threat? Based on my observations, the answer is no one. Battling racism, brutality, societal norms, and expectations placed on you by your community, in what space are you allowed softness? Where are you allowed to rest? I found it difficult to answer these questions. With the weight of the world on your shoulders, it feels easier to adapt to the narrative you’re given than to create your own. Delving further into these thoughts, I created a composition of two black men, where one stares into the eyes of the world, and the other craves the feelings of belonging and a shoulder to lean on. Regarding the male figure gazing at the viewer, he stands tall and unrelenting, he is composed and colored with different shades and layers of who he is “supposed” to be. He’s supposed to be a criminal, he’s supposed to be violent, and he’s supposed to fit a mold. He is destined to be another statistic and claim an identity that he never envisioned for himself. Yet, the male figure that we see in the background reveals everything society forgets to consider, this black man is human. This black man has feelings, emotions, and experiences pain the same way we all do. So, how does he heal when no one believes he has the right to do so? When is it his turn to be loved? This artwork is my favorite because it challenges me to consider the realities of who I am and the circumstances that people who look like me face. It is not only exhausting but also necessary. It reminds me that I create art to open hearts and offer people, especially those who share the gift of being black, a space to realize they are more than what society wants them to be. “How do black men heal?” is my indirect method of challenging members of the black community to reconsider our values, self-perception, and the ways we treat ourselves. For so long we’ve carried burdens that are not our own, and now it is even more essential that we must assess how we, as a community, can be better and achieve more. In the journey of my own healing, I have found ways to be more comfortable and proud of my skin. With this piece, I invite members of the black community to look within themselves to find answers rather than entertain these one-narrative stories from those who do not share the same skin or the same experiences as us. I believe healing has the power to save generations and I will continue to emphasize this message in all the art that I create.

One of my favorite pieces of art that I have created is a positionality statement from my graphic design class. In this statement, we were tasked to discuss our lives as artists: what we do, who we are, and so on. As I stared at blank screens and empty sketchbook pages, I could not seem to figure out who I was. I can think of multiple qualities that make me, me. But, at the time, I found it hard to visualize. With so many ideas in my mind, I decided to write. I wrote about myself, but, eventually, it became a conversation between different people. In "She is Me", past versions of me reveal aspects of my life that I never considered. Here, I truly meet myself. Here, I think about my family, who I embody so much, yet share so many differences with. I think about generational traumas, personal goals and insecurities, and all of the experiences that have molded me into the person that I am now. I focus on learning from my surroundings and listening to my inner voice. Not only does this piece serve as a mirror, but as a vehicle to amplify the voices of those who share similar backgrounds as well. Overall, "She is Me" is inspired by the timing of my life. As a college student who is trying to navigate life and find meaning, I was in a very confused and anxious state. However, everything aligned as I created this piece. With so many conflicting thoughts, this piece allows me to pause and I find solace in knowing that the path I am on is one that I have created and refined throughout my life. In this piece, I look back on times when I would approach art with more play and curiosity. I consider this piece as a sign to learn, listen, and explore life in the same manner that I used to. Considering the elements of the composition, I used text and included myself as the subject in order further the notion of different perspectives and identities. Not only is the viewer regarding me physically through my image, but emotionally through writing. With traditional artist statements in mind, I provide a snapshot of my life and what creation means to me: expression and understanding. As artists, I believe we create in order to explore the possibilities of life and the depths of our imaginations. In "She is Me", I tell myself to trust in the process, as the possibilities are endless.

My beautiful and unbreakable mother has had the biggest influence on my life. In the face of adversity, she has remained strong and raised me to be tenacious and unrelenting in a society that does not favor someone who looks like me. Born into a strict Haitian household, my mother never got the freedom to express herself and achieve a life she dreamed for herself. Instead, she kept her head down and traveled to America with my father seeking a better life for our family. My earliest memories of my mother consist of her getting dressed for work. Despite my lack of attachment to these memories, I recall her getting dressed in various uniforms over the course of my life. From nurse scrubs to housekeeping uniforms my mother was always getting dressed to provide us with the best that she could afford. In these moments she always encouraged me to chase my dreams and take advantage of all opportunities that came my way. However, as my eyes grew to sparkle, my mother’s began to dull. Older now, I realize the many jobs and countless hours of hard work dimmed my mother’s light. As an immigrant woman, she is underappreciated and constantly fights to be treated equally. Through all of this, she has never faltered or batted an eyelash at what life had to throw her way, until she broke down in front of me. My superwoman revealed her kryptonite and it broke my heart into pieces. My mother works so hard, and I believe it's only right to work just as hard to show her the fruits of her efforts. With the art she taught me to love, I want to paint her a new world. I want to make it for her, for me, and for all who look like me. To achieve this, I developed an outline for a clothing brand dedicated to social critique. This brand explores the mental health and treatment of People of Color in an effort to discuss what we, the next generation, would like to see in our futures. I discovered a passion for and a voice in this project during my sophomore year. I intend to use my artistic skills to bring this project into a reality. Not only would this brand amplify voices like mothers, but I also believe it would provide people of color with a chance to illustrate, and display their voices. No longer are we looked down upon, here we stand strong and stand by who we are. For example, one design in this project featured a t-shirt available in the lightest of shades to the riches of brown tones with an image of two different identities connected by the growth between them. While these identities face different directions and different paths, they share the same values and come together to enhance their understanding of each other. Consequently, I want the images presented on the items of this brand to be raw, thoughtful, and consistent with the true feelings of communities that deserve to be heard. My artistic skill is different in both technique and intention. I use lines to communicate ideas unique to my experiences. I create art that generates a discussion about the significance of identity and being proud of who you are. I use a meticulous linework style accompanied by various colors, textures, and mediums to indicate the power of black skin. I believe in sharing my story to connect with and empower others. With each art piece that I create, I hope to help others gain a greater understanding of who they are.

The pandemic has taught me to present my best self to the world. I would often spend time existing in the future and failed to be present with myself. However, during the pandemic, I was able to pause and consider the person I am and what I want to do for the world and myself. As I workshopped my ideas, I realize the impact I could have on the world. I then refined my artistic skills and discovered what I want to convey to my audience. From pain to feelings of excitement, and finally reflection, I taught myself to be more passionate in how I create and present myself. As a result, I was and continue to make some of my best work which features concepts of black beauty and black representation in the world. I want to amplify the voices of people who look like me and the pandemic taught me how I should go about achieving these goals. Additionally, I have had time to think about bigger ideas and network with people who share the same passions. I have found my niche and now I am working to share my efforts with the world.

My beautiful and unbreakable mother has had the biggest influence on my life. In the face of adversity, she has remained strong and raised me to be tenacious and unrelenting in a society that does not favor someone who looks like me. Born into a strict Haitian household, my mother never obtained the freedom to express herself and achieve a life she dreamed for herself. Instead, she kept her head down and traveled to America with my father seeking a better life for our family. My earliest memories of my mother consist of her getting dressed for work. Despite my lack of attachment to these memories, I recall her getting dressed in various uniforms over the course of my life. From nurse scrubs to housekeeping uniforms my mother was always getting dressed to provide us with the best that she could afford. In these moments she always encouraged me to chase my dreams and take advantage of all opportunities that came my way. However, as my eyes grew to sparkle, my mother’s began to dull. Older now, I realize the many jobs and countless hours of hard work dimmed my mother’s light. As an immigrant woman, she is underappreciated and constantly fights to be treated equally. Through all of this, she has never faltered or batted an eyelash at what life had to throw her way, until she broke down in front of me. My superwoman revealed her kryptonite and it broke my heart into pieces. My mother works so hard, and I believe it's only right to work just as hard to show her the fruits of her efforts. With the art she taught me to love, I want to paint her a new world. I want to make it for her, for me, and for all who look like me. To achieve this, I developed an outline for a clothing brand dedicated to social critique. This brand explores the mental health and treatment of People of Color to discuss what we, the next generation, would like to see in our futures. I discovered a passion for and a voice in this project during my sophomore year. I intend to use my artistic skills to bring this project into a reality. Not only would this brand amplify voices like mothers, but I also believe it would provide people of color with a chance to illustrate, and display their voices. No longer are we looked down upon, here we stand united to show who we are. For example, one design in this project featured a t-shirt available in multiple rich shades with an image of two different identities connected by the growth between them. While these identities face different paths, they share the same values and come together to enhance their understanding of each other. Consequently, I want the images presented on the items of this brand to be raw, thoughtful, and consistent with the true feelings of communities that deserve to be heard. My artistic skill is different in both technique and intention. I use lines to communicate ideas unique to my experiences. Recently decided to create artworks that generate a discussion about the significance of identity and being proud of who you are. Within these artworks, I use a meticulous linework style accompanied by various colors, textures, and mediums to indicate the power of black skin. I believe in sharing my story to connect with and empower others. With each art piece that I create, I hope to gain a greater understanding of who I am while helping others do the same.

I want people who look like me to see themselves within the art that I create. As an African American woman living in America, I have witnessed my fair share of triumphs and downfalls. However, through my art, I am able to tell stories that are unique to my experience as a black woman. I usually focus on illustrating the captivating beauty of African American men and women, but I recently decided to create artworks which generate a discussion about the significance of black lives. Within these artworks, I use various forms of line work, color, texture, and mediums to indicate the power of black skin. I can only create art which resonates with who I am and what I believe. I want people who do not share my experiences to consider them and gain an insight of what life is like in someone else’s shoes. The colorful skin, curly hair, thick lips, and prominent features that I display in my art are pieces of myself that society struggles to deem beautiful. Yet, in my eyes, these qualities are the root of my identity. As a result, I share my identity with the world in order to remind those who may be struggling with their own identities that they are indeed beautiful. My work as a visual artist intersects with culture by providing different perspectives and a voice for each perspective. I often use abstract lines to create portraits that demand the attention of viewers. The lines used in my portraits produce movement and forces viewers to spend more time absorbing and appreciating the artwork. I use multiple lines in my art because they come together to reveal an image and suggest a story. Hence, the images I create connect multiple backgrounds in order to provide a collective understanding about culture and what it means to be black. To be black is to be bold. Therefore, I use bold details and colors that communicate ideas about life. I have witnessed too many moments in which black people are viewed as inferior, as a result, I use my art to creative a narrative that is rich in culture and demonstrates the stories of those who matter. I also use line work as my style because it is the skeletal structure for most art. The lines, much like the truth, are not as malleable as soft tissue. They are rigid enough to stand their ground, yet they curve gently in some places in a demonstration of masculine strength yielding to feminine tenacity. Cultural narratives are easily and often times altered to favor those at the top of the hierarchy. Yet, art is sometimes the dam that stops such a fluid movement of propaganda that has been spun to maintain the status quo. Picasso said it best, “art is the lie that reveals the truth”. However, with my art I indicate there is no lie. I boldly place cultural identifiers of African and black people at the forefront of the audience’s thoughts. My lines weave within their perceptions of European beauty and forces them to take a look at the majesty that is unyielding in African beauty.

I want people who look like me to see themselves within the art that I create. As an African American woman living in America, I have witnessed my fair share of triumphs and downfalls. However, through my art, I can tell stories that are unique to my experience as a black woman. I usually focus on illustrating the captivating beauty of African American men and women but, I recently decided to create artworks that generate a discussion about the significance of black lives. Within these artworks, I use various forms of line work, color, texture, and mediums to indicate the power of black skin. I can only create art that resonates with who I am and what I believe. I want people who do not share my experiences to consider them and gain an insight into what life is like in someone else’s shoes. The colorful skin, curly hair, thick lips, and prominent features that I display in my art are pieces of myself that society struggles to deem beautiful. Yet, in my eyes, these qualities are the root of my identity. As a result, I share my identity with the world to remind those who may be struggling with their own identities that they are indeed beautiful. My work as a visual artist intersects with culture by providing different perspectives and a voice for each perspective. I often use abstract lines to create portraits that demand the attention of viewers. The lines used in my portraits produce movement and forces viewers to spend more time absorbing and appreciating the artwork. I use multiple lines in my art because they come together to reveal an image and suggest a story. Hence, the images I create connect multiple backgrounds to provide a collective understanding about culture and what it means to be black. To be black is to be bold. Therefore, I use bold details and colors that communicate ideas about life. I have witnessed too many moments in which black people are viewed as inferior, as a result, I use my art to create a narrative that is rich in culture and demonstrates the stories of those who matter. I also use linework as my style because it is the skeletal structure for most art. The lines, much like the truth, are not as malleable as soft tissue. They are rigid enough to stand their ground, yet they curve gently in some places in a demonstration of masculine strength yielding to feminine tenacity. Cultural narratives are easily and often altered to favor those at the top of the hierarchy. Yet, art is sometimes the dam that stops such a fluid movement of propaganda that has been spun to maintain the status quo. Picasso said it best, “art is the lie that reveals the truth." However, with my art I indicate there is no lie. I boldly place cultural identifiers of African and black people at the forefront of the audience’s thoughts. My lines weave within their perceptions of European beauty and force them to take a look at the majesty that is unyielding in African beauty.