Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

Portraiture is where my heart lies, but I’m drawn to creating across multiple surfaces—wearable art, murals, canvas, and more. I enjoy adapting my style to each space while staying true to my voice. That constant shift keeps me challenged and intentional, pushing me to stay sharp and never complacent. It’s in that tension between comfort and growth that my strongest work is created.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in my ancestry, my identity as a Black queer artist, and the freedom I saw growing up in 90s pop culture—artists like Missy Elliott and Busta Rhymes who expanded what it meant to be black, alternative and taken seriously . I’m inspired by fashion, bold color, and stylized portraiture, using them to celebrate individuality and reframe “otherness” as something powerful, expressive, and worthy of being seen.

What would you do with $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to expand my practice through larger-scale projects and stronger materials, while growing my wearable art into a broader lifestyle brand across fashion, home, and everyday design. I would also pour back into my family that has supported this dream since preschool. Another significant portion would support outreach programs, workshops, and creative resources for youth and underserved communities, helping them see creativity as a real, empowering path forward.