Keisha is an artist based in Lancaster City. Her art centers around themes of the Black experience. During the height of the shutdown, she created a public mural titled Nurture Your Mind that lifted the spirits of the Lancaster community and worked with other artists to put together another mural in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. Keisha continues to share her experience as a Black woman through her art and inspires her community.
Who has been your biggest influence?
My biggest influence? I’d have to say my biggest famous art influences are Frida Kahlo and Jean Michel Basquiat. The way Frida was so in touch with herself and being able to portray that in a paint so powerful is inspiring to me as well as her story in general and having a close relationship with her father because I have the same with my own. I love Basquiat because of his fearlessness to say exactly what he wants and not think about too much of the art he’s creating but using everything around him as inspiration as well as a canvas. I want to be more like him. I’m also influenced by myself and being a woman of color, I paint a lot of women and they all seem to resemble me unintentionally. I’m also so influenced by nature, bright color and anything around me that I can connect with in an artistic way. I’m very influenced and inspired by the artists around me in my community as well as artists I know in different areas that I can connect with on social media.
What motivated you to be involved in your community?
I’ve always wanted to be more involved in the community. It was just finding a way I could do that. But this past summer has really pushed me and I felt it was my duty as an artist to use my art in these hard times through the BLM movement when everyone couldn’t speak the words I shared with the community as a visual to that. As well as, the fact that I was born and raised here I want to do what I can for the place I call home.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Advice I would give to my younger self is that everything is going to be fine. Be yourself and embrace everything about you, love yourself, you are beautiful and talented. You are enough.
What’s your idea of self-care?
My idea of self care would be having my usual alone time. Especially while I’m creating. I try to disconnect and not be distracted. Taking hikes in nature whenever I can, seeing waterfalls, flowers, animals, etc. As well as, traveling and visiting art museums I’ve never been to. Getting a pedicure, my hair done, shopping these things I normally don’t do often as I’d like.
What message do you have for the future generations of women?
Be yourself, love yourself, stand up for yourself. Do what you love and put your all into whatever that may be someone is going to love it. Be humble and grateful for the things we often take for granted. You are enough.
Lastly, speed round!
Heels or Flats? Flats
Pancakes or Waffles? Waffles
Day or Night? Day
Books or Movies? Movies/Documentaries
Rain or Sunshine? Sunshine
