** PRINTS OF ARTWORK AVAILABLE**

In the words of the artist: "Making art is my own journey to loving myself. Recently, I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in painting. Along my journey I learned to cope with what it means to be a Black woman in these predominantly white institutions that really don't prioritize our mental and physical wellbeing. I found myself overworked, alienated in class with silent critiques and micro-agressive feedback concerning my artwork. Inevitably, I began questioning my worth as an artist, until I realized that the world *needs* more Black voices in art. I became very aware of the white gaze and its predatory relationship to Black trauma in art and pushed back on it by creating pieces that prioritize the joy and wellness of Black women in my work. Painting and drawing is healing for me, as I envision myself in dream-like environments resting, being unapologetically myself. I hope by painting these images of Black women in leisure, loving ourselves wholeheartedly and unbothered by the confines of white supremacy can begin to encourage other Black folks to do the same in real life."