Artist Statement

Growing up I wanted my art to have meaning. This year my focus was surrounded by improving my mental health. Mental health awareness is usually overlooked but very important, especially in the black community. A big advocate to improving my mental health was affirmations. When I started saying and writing affirmations, I used it in the form “I am.” It was important for me to incorporate that into my exhibition. I use it even to this day to remind myself of all the good parts of myself despite the outside world’s perceptive and the negative self-talk.  

Being a woman of color, I know firsthand the things we go through and how life and society can affect our mental health. I was inspired to create something that was personal to me but also to the women apart of it. Each of these extraordinary women come from different backgrounds and experiences, but mental health and self-love does not exclude any of those differences. 

With the selected flowers and butterflies there is a meaning that resonates with each person on a personal level. For example, one of my posters consists of sunflowers. Sunflowers represent happiness, optimism, honesty, longevity, peace, and devotion. Butterflies are a metaphor representing spiritual rebirth, transformation, change, hope, and life. While taking these women photos watching them embody their affirmations had to be the most empowering part of the entire process. When people see my collection, I want them to feel empowered to always embrace who they are and the skin that they are in.