“My version of the tale (inspired by Les Demoiselle d’avignon) Painting

I enjoy working with African fabrics and paints on wood and on canvas! I use bold images and colors, and I think this is a heavy influence from my African heritage and my Yoruba cultural influences which tend to be vibrant. My Influences & Motivations My cultural affiliations and influences are multi-dimensional as a Yoruba woman, an African, a black woman in America, a professional in human sciences, an LGBTQ Ally and as a mother. I consider my artwork as contemporary art and my expressions showcase diversity of backgrounds, human issues, self-identity and a reflection of the times we currently live. I hope to convey joy, pain, vulnerability, hope, love and resilience. I also express the struggle of selfidentify and I intentionally work to show representation in my images. This part of my work is important to me as I strongly believe that Art gives voice. I work to show interactions and expressions in ways that create appreciation for the diversity of humanity. This aspect is a major driver that keeps me going in my Art journey and influences the subject matters that I use. I feel satisfied with a piece when I feel it’s authenticity and that the message conveyed includes representation, reflection, honesty and an appreciation of life and human connection.