ARTIST STATEMENT
My “Beautiful Voice” series, highlights women's voices. As an African-born woman and former refugee, I deeply connect with each figure in my paintings. These figures represent both beauty and the struggles inherent in their stories. Their voices are expressed through their thoughts, styles, ethnicities, and shapes.
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This series features a short film, an immersive installation, and mixed-media paintings. Each figure exemplifies strength, resilience, and diverse beauty, with layered and indistinct faces representing their depth, unity, and solidarity, their beautiful voice. The artwork captures the essence of blackness, brownness, and colour.​​
Creating these pieces honours women and underscores the importance of supporting women as leaders, professionals, mothers, sisters and partners. I use textured papers from Japan, India, and other regions, known for their vibrancy and strength, reflecting the qualities of the women in my art. The strength of the wood panels I use complements this. The papers inspire my creativity, guiding the figures and compositions. Clothing and head wraps are created using a collage technique with these papers, layered to mimic traditional African fabrics and add depth. ​ My layering technique is evident in the skin tones and fabric patterns. The combination of paint and paper collaging gives a tactile texture, making the surfaces engaging and connecting with the viewer. The facial features and postures are impressionistic, focusing on form and expression through simplified shapes and bold lines. This creative process is a meditative practice, helping me connect spiritually while navigating life’s challenges.
