Nothing made by mankind is truly original. Even your own personhood is a combination of two, or four, or the hundreds of people before you. So while I believe that every work of art; every building, painting, garden and human is already a collaboration, the conscious act of collaborating with another person is beautiful in a completely new way. Some of the most transformative moments in my creative journey have not happened alone, they've happened in shared spaces of preparation, dialogue, and artistic exchange. My own growth and goals have been shaped by the shared inspiration that fuel both the art and the artists. One of my favorite quotes comes from Desmond Tutu, a bishop known for working as an anti-apartheid human rights activist and for being the first black African to hold the position as Bishop of Johannesburg and Archbishop of Capetown. He once said “My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” This idea resonated with the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which Desmond Tutu championed. It's the belief that “a person is a person through other persons”. Both scholars and interpreters of Tutu’s work describe this quote as a call to recognize that our dignity, empathy, and fulfillment are inseparable from the well being of others. In the context of art, I believe that interconnectedness is powerful; creativity thrives on empathy, dialogue and connectedness rather than isolation. Art is an inherently communal practice that can illuminate the human condition through having dialogues with others. Collaboration has become the only way I know how to work, not only in the physical sense, but when creating stories and works of art I always make a large effort to turn to my peers to ask what they see in my work, and how it makes them feel. A recent project I partook in was the Michael Latt Artivist Accelerator Program, where I assisted in developing a community centered art project and event over the course of twelve weeks. Throughout those twelve weeks, I learned about different aspects of my community through what my ten other peers brought to the table. We each had our one individual project but constantly talked and critiqued each other to improve and put forth our best work. We weren't just focused on our individual pieces, we also took on the challenge of organizing roughly a 5 hour community event and showcase, coordinating everything from logistics to creative presentation as the very first cohort from that program. We started the day of preparing and helping each other set up our exhibits, and I ended feeling accomplished and happy. What made the event so special was the work we put up alone and the overall work we did together. The attendees could tell that as a cohort we always respected what one another brought to the table, and everything that we put up was made with care for the community. I believe that what we make together is what makes us truly human. Leaning on others and letting others lean on me makes the best type of work. In those moments where ideas are exchanged and roles overlapped, the process becomes learning, adapting and growing through others as well as creating. I've seen how collaboration brings out perspectives I wouldn't have reached on my own, which is why I value both the final product and the journey of building it with others.

Growing up in Los Angeles, a city filled with creativity and cultural diversity, has given me a beautiful perspective on the role art plays in representing society's modern aspirations and beliefs but throughout high school, I’ve watched my art classes be disregarded as an extracurricular, busy work, and a break period. My art teacher, Sister Amina, combated this stigma by teaching her students that art is a reflection of society, and its appreciation is a sign of intelligence. The one lesson that she taught that hammered the point she was making was observing Eugene Majied’s political artwork and using his artwork as inspiration to make a political poster of our own based on what we are angry about and be prepared to write and share an essay about it in class. Whenever I create art, I try to think of it as a process. Observe, Invent, and Sensitize Doing that, I decided to focus on the hardships of women in Palestine for an assignment. I titled my art: ‘The Ongoing Catastrophe in Palestine.' In the foreground, there were two figures; a woman kneeled over holding her child while an IDF soldier aimed a gun at her head. I used the colors of bright red and white to invoke a sense of chaos and intensity around them, while they were black and white. Behind them, there is rubble and destroyed buildings, while the crescent from the Nation of Islam, which represents justice, shines down on them. As we discussed what we were upset about, I gained insight into how systemic issues connect and affect different communities. I loved how we as a class used our abilities to create strong works of art that deeply resonate with each other and that can be interpreted in many different ways. This experience taught me that art is a tool for advocacy and solidified my desire to use art to inspire dialogue and change. After the lesson, Sister Amina shared a quote that resonated deeply with me: “Art, in its many forms, is practiced by almost all human cultures and can be regarded as one of the defining characteristics of the human species.” This opened my eyes to the fact that our creations make us distinctly human. Art has become my way to heal and feel truly alive, sparking growth and awareness within me. To me, being an artist means having the power to observe, invent, and sensitize; the person who holds the pen, holds the power. I plan to teach people the importance of this power by owning an art school where young artists can come to learn, create, and talk about their work. Through my many years of growing as an artist, I’ve learned it truly does not matter what medium you’re using as long as you are producing something. When you make something, it can generate feelings for yourself and the observer. Artists create new ideas every second, and they bring those ideas to life through physical media like paintings and sculptures and through forms of expression like dance and music. I believe that taking time to make or do something, and being able to find meaning in the most obscure things is what makes art special.

Observe, Invent, and Sensitize. When you've been an artist for so many years, you learn how to see things in a very different way than everyone else. The ability to create strong works of art that deeply resonate with people and that can be interpreted in many different ways is a skill that is often overlooked in our society. It transcends language barriers and allows us to communicate and explore complex ideas together. As artists, we have to wear multiple hats in order to be truly effective in our craft. Through architecture, fashion, performance, and paintings, art tells us how people have and will continue to live. We’ve used fashion as a form of rebellion and a way to claim space in ‘places we don't belong.' Ultimately, I plan to own an art school where young artists can come to learn, create, and talk about their work. It will be in Los Angeles to employ and support artists from here. I want to teach traditional art since those skills can easily be transferred to digital art, the foundations of dealing with businesses. and the relationship between art and politics. I have enjoyed doing art since elementary school, and the advice my teacher gave made it easy for me to love it without pressure. “There are no mistakes in art” Whenever I felt like my work was ruined over something like spilled paint or messy coloring, she encouraged me to make the best of it. To make the best of our ‘mistakes’ we need to learn how to see them as something else. I choose to see mines as opportunities to expand. My current short-term goals to get to this point start with selling the stickers I make and working with small businesses through the Sola Tech and Entrepreneurship centers to begin to raise money for the property I'm going to buy for my school. I’ve had the chance to experiment with multiple different mediums, and I’ve learned it truly does not matter what medium you’re using as long as you are producing something. When you make something, it can generate feelings for yourself and the observer. Artists create new ideas every second, and they bring those ideas to life through physical media like paintings and sculptures and through forms of expression like dance and music. I believe that taking time to make or do something, and being able to find meaning in the most obscure things is what makes art special. My vision drives me to continue sharpening my skills and expanding my knowledge so that I can provide the best support to my future students.