I see my art practice as inseparable from my movement work and commitment to building toward liberation.
My passion for self-portraiture is a radical practice of self-love and acceptance. I return to self-portraits and offer it as a tool to uproot the internalized capitalist pattern of perpetual striving for change, growth, and action—a mindset often embraced by many changemaking kinfolk—by encouraging stillness, vulnerability, and devotion through its creation.
I feel affirmed by the work of Dr. Akasha Gloria Hull, who emphasizes the legitimate role of spirituality and creativity in socio-political struggle. In her book, Soul Talk: The New Spirituality of African American Women, Dr. Hull highlights three dimensions—politics, spirituality, and creativity—as critical practices intricately interwoven and necessary for truly effective social transformation and human revolution. This wisdom resonates deeply with me, as I journey to integrate my wholeness into my lifestyle as a movement worker, artist, and spiritually-grounded, land-based being.
This piece is inspired by my collaborative work with Soil Generation and our forthcoming publication, Soul ReIntegration: An Artistic Self Exploration & Healing Journey Curriculum Guidebook. I engaged in my personal ritual of tarot to depict three transformative chapters of my career in response to Prompt #1, “The Terrain I’ve Traveled.” Reflecting on my journey from 2017 to 2023, I selected two tarot cards to encapsulate the essence of each era’s environment and impact on my life and illustrated my reinterpretation with colored pencil and gold acrylic paint over black paper. Each piece blurs the line between reality and mysticism, weaving together my lived experiences with tarot archetypes.
THREE OF WANDS
The Tower
TEMPERANCE
The Star
THE HIGH PRIESTESS
The Empress
