artist

MAKE SHIFT CREATE – BLACK CREATORS RESIDENCY

| Aliyah Art

Make.Shift.Create is a charity foundation based in Brixton and they reached out to me on Instagram to select me as one of their black creatives for their 3 months residency programme.

This is an exciting opportunity I have been waiting for! I’ll be able to get more recognition as an artist in London, I also get to sell my art merchandise in their shop and online!

To commerate this achievement, I am going to release an exclusive collection just for this residency which starts on Sunday 24th April with the event at Pop Brixton. I’ll be selling art prints and a few new exclusive merch so please keep a look out.

I am truly grateful to have this opportunity to branch out my audience and get my artwork out there, especially to bring joy to those who see it and they get to support me and keep a piece of art for themselves so they too can feel empowered. There is so much power in seeing yourself in illustrations and paintings, something which I didn’t see a lot of growing up. I show myself and black women love when I create my illustrations.

FROM SCRATCH – CLOSING CEREMONY

| Aliyah Art

Thursday 7th April 2022

The closing ceremony for the first successful group exhibition by my good, dear friend Annette Fernando is happening this Thursday. I am very happy to announce that not only did I feature in the exhibition, but I’ll also be hosting the event on the night!

I felt with my experience and confidence built up from doing YouTube videos and Twitch livestreams, this was the next step up for me to go. I am very excited to host and present on the night!

There will be exclusive postcards of the artwork featured in the exhibition for sale, also some amazing performances from bands, musicians to spoken word poets on the night.

Being part of this exhibition has been such an achievement for me, I’m so happy to be able to share my artwork with my friends and family. It’s made me hungry for more – I will be featuring in more group exhibitions and soon will have my own solo exhibition too (it’s about time I did!)

This has made me proud to call myself an Artist!

Updates

| Aliyah Art

A lot has been happening my end, along with fantastic opportunities for commissions as an artist, I am also growing as an influencer too! I am absolutely excited about the campaigns I’ve been asked to work on and it really warms my heart to have this recognition. To be a body positive influencer and an artist influencer too, to teach others that not only can they make art but they are also themselves – ART!

This is the message I want to spread across, along with good vibes and fun – always!

YOU ARE ART.

Body Positivity

| Aliyah Art

During the second lockdown in UK, I was asked by the major lingerie brand (that I also love!) Curvy Kate, to do my first partnership takeover with them on Instagram! They wanted me to model the sets they sent over to me and also create a piece of art. It was both very exciting and nerve-wrecking as I’ve not ever modelled lingerie before, nor ever fathomed the thought of it because I’ve always felt really insecure about my body for as long as I can remember.

This opened the gates to body positivity for me, something I have followed for so long to feel reassured about myself. Now it’s my turn to get to be a part of that movement too and inspire others! The reality is that I am actually very sporty and very fit, but my body doesn’t change shape or “lose weight” this is just my frame – and I am healthy and CURVY!

Check out my takeover in the story highlights here: https://www.instagram.com/curvykate/

A BAD BXTCH

| Aliyah Art

I recently made myself a Spotify playlist to lift up my mood, help me feel good and remind myself of the bad B I really am. I think it’s important for us women to empower ourselves, to take ownership and feel good about our bodies too! This is what I was channelling whilst drawing this image.

You can follow the Spotify playlist here!

Black Lives Matter

| Aliyah Art

This illustration was actually an unfinished piece from 2018 that I came across it whilst I was organising my files on my laptop. That’s when the idea hit me, and I was able to complete the piece with haste because it just was the perfect composition and concept for me to portray an issue I feel really passionate about and that is incredibly close to home.

As we all slowly adjust back to reality and lockdown eases; remember this isn’t a moment, it’s a movement. Protect the young black minds that will drive the next generation, we are all helping to bring change.

BLACK LIVES STILL MATTER.

Eclipse Magazine

| Aliyah Art

My lovely and dear friend Cleo has launched Eclipse Magazine and as part of the launch, I will be hosting a virtual life drawing session in collaboration with them! I’m very excited to do this, I absolutely love life drawing and I truly believe it was the key in to helping me master drawing.

Please do come along and tune in on Instagram Live.

Wednesday 3rd June, 12pm.