Aliyah Mickens: Storytelling Through Portraiture
Aliyah Mickens is an African-American portrait artist who uses painting to tell a narrative about individual experiences, while deconstructing and exploring fragmented realities about preconceptions and truth.
How did your creative journey begin?
My creative journey began when I lived in Chicago. Having access to Chicago’s famous architectural pieces as well as artworks in its numerous museums made me want to create pieces that could someday be seen in galleries across the world.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
I find inspiration for my art in my everyday life. More specifically in the media, I consume from social media to digitally created works like animations and documentaries.
How has your work shifted and evolved over time?
Over time I think my art went from being very generic to having a personal tone. I used to just make portraits because I enjoyed the different features of people's faces but today, while my art is still very focused on people, it is now driven by emotions, space, social climate, and color.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
A typical day in the studio for me can begin at 10 am in the morning or 2 pm when the sun is at its peak. Either way, you will find me running to the studio. Painting in my space really makes time go by and I don't even notice it. Something that has changed is I spend a lot more time prepping and looking at my art more than actual painting. This just helps me pace myself as well as being able to give my paintings some breathing space. It gives me a chance to step back and ask myself what can i do better and what I already love.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
The Coronavirus Pandemic has had a huge impact on my work and my art subjects. When the virus gained traction, we were forced to paint from home removing direct access to fellow artists and it was harder to take pictures of people for my reference. This was huge because it showed me what painting alone could be like, fixing any issues that arise with the works solo. It was a driving factor for some of the themes I take pride in portraying within my work.
How has Instagram impacted your art career?
So far it has been a great way for me to connect with artists that I usually would have never met. It is a great way for others to see my artwork. Most importantly though, it’s a great networking tool and gives not just me but other artists a way to market not just their art, but themselves to art lovers and potential patrons.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
In the future, I want to make my art more public as well as my process. People being able to see my work is such a great feeling, especially after hours of letting your emotions and thoughts pour into a work of art. I want to show my work in galleries where it can be seen and appreciated by other art enthusiasts and fellow artists. Another goal of mine is to build an art studio where I can truly feel at home, one that makes me feel inspired the moment I step in.
Website: www.aliyahmickens.com
Instagram: @ipaint_aliyah