Today we’d like to introduce you to Taliyah Shepard.
Taliyah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m an artist and curator! Even though I have created artwork my whole life, once I competed in art fairs in high school, I realized this could be a viable career path. During my time in college, I mastered my craft. Taking ordinary images and expose the beauty of a moment by bringing the subtext and introspection into the picture as if it were tangible. Each painting is a diary entry, a shadow work session, a beautiful poem, or a dedication to a season of life, through heartbreak, joy, change, and becoming yourself. I’ve created my own definition of surrealism, full of personal symbols, drawing from Afrofuturism and art powerhouses such as Betye Saar, Hans Hoffman, Manet, Kerry James Marshall, and Jenifer Packer, to name a few.
As a post-grad artist and curator, I spend my time creating art events for/from BIPOC and LGBTQIA artists in the Tri-State area. I’ve been curating shows since 2023 and love to make art feel accessible to the everyday human. Whether through representation, resources, or embracing them into a community that advocates for them, my curatorial goals are rooted in my values.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most of my struggles come from not feeling comfortable in the “Art World”. Being black and queer, I’ve become used to being underestimated regardless of my skills and to my art being misunderstood. The hardest thing to overcome was how I present myself in the world. Feeling like I had to present a certain way limited me to what I thought I was supposed to create. The risk was that I could no longer be considered a “fine artist”. The reward of being myself has been the overwhelming response from those who do understand my work. To be appreciated as yourself, you must be fully seen.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Art is the avenue that I use to expose my soul.
Taking ordinary images and exposing the beauty of a moment by bringing the subtext and introspection into the picture as if it were tangible. Each painting is a diary entry, a shadow work session, a beautiful poem or dedication to a season of life, through heartbreak, joy, change, and becoming yourself. I’ve created my own definition of surrealism, full of personal symbols, drawing from Afrofuturism and art powerhouses such as Betye Saar, Kerry James Marshall, and Jenifer Packer.
My references are a collage of my interests and culture. A Black Caribbean American and New Jersey Native, my history is rooted in a colorful, loud, and unapologetic aura. My formative years were in the punk music scene and within the world of comics; these inform my painting and collage style.
My materials collection process is a large part of my artmaking. I stop in the streets of New Jersey and New York and grab anything that catches my eye. Lottery tickets, posters, street signs, stickers, and things that are admittedly trash. These things are the foundation of the narratives within my work as I turn them into beautiful works of art. Like my ancestors who came to this country with nothing, or the family members who were part of the Great Migration to the North, each created a beautiful legacy.
It’s very important to have BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ people be the main subjects of my work. Being part of both communities has changed my life and shaped who I am today.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
The happiest moments of my childhood were spent at the Jersey City Public Library. A moment my mother and I reference a lot is when I found out I could use the space on my sister’s card to exceed the ten-book library limit. I would speed through ten-plus books a week and then get more the next week like clockwork
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tinkabink.my.canva.site/artist
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tink_a.belle/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliyah-shepard-9895601b7/
