Up-and-coming Black creators you should know
by Alyssa Jaffer
One of the best parts of living in a city like London is its rich and diverse culture and arts scene. And if you look a bit closer, you’ll find the talent, passion and artistry particularly of Black creators – not just in London, but also throughout the UK and Ireland.
We’re shining a light on creative Black talents, their craft and what inspires them to create. Here are three Black creators on the rise that you should know about.
Melos, courtesy of the artist.
Vanessa Ifediora (portrait of the artist)
The artist: Vanessa Ifediora, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Her craft: Portrait photography
Her story: “In 2016, I was living in Japan and suffering from anxiety. I started bringing my camera out to take pictures around my neighbourhood. Then, I would challenge myself to ask somebody if I could take their picture. I started to use the camera as a buffer between me and the outside world.”
Her masterpiece: “A picture I took of a gorgeous Dublin-based model Minji Park, where she’s kind of levitating. I did a great shoot with a hair salon The Curly Look. The stylist called his friends to be his models for the day and the energy was just gorgeous.”
Identity and her art: “I’m a Black bisexual woman, so of course there are times I want to express and celebrate this or that element of me. But overall, whatever I make is always mine, regardless of whatever today’s story is or who is in front of the lens. I just make what I make as a Black woman.”
The trinity, courtesy of the artist.
The artist: Merissa Hylton, London, UK
Her craft: Mixed media, painting and sculpture
Her inspiration: “Ancestry, emotions, mental health [and] self-acceptance. I'm currently working on projects that are focused on myself, my ancestry and my experiences as a [dis]abled black female artist.”
Her masterpiece: “My favourite piece is a sculpture called 'I Am Here - Acceptance'. It was a strange experience to create such a visible, tangible piece of art that was so raw in its depiction of my hand and Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS). It symbolises my own personal journey to embrace my hand and to celebrate the fact that there are Black female creatives living and thriving with ABS.”
Hot take on 2020: “The current racial tension has meant that a lot of Black people are having to deal with racist attitudes head-on now, as opposed to covertly and through systematic and subversive acts of racism. This is taking its toll on our mental health. We need to realise that it's not our responsibility to teach others how to be anti-racist.”
Grace, courtesy of the artist.
The artist: Kingsley Nebechi, Hertfordshire, UK
His craft: Illustration and design
His story: “My earliest memory of experiencing creativity was watching my father work as an architect. He used to take me to work with him. I remember seeing the other architects drawing sketches and modelling physical miniature buildings. That experience is imprinted into my mind to this day.”
His inspiration: “I can never get enough of Keith Haring’s work; his patterns are amazing. I also really enjoy fashion magazines, comics and vintage black photography.”
His masterpiece: ”I was commissioned to create artwork for the Nike Air Max React 270. I wanted to challenge myself to create something more abstract and architectural. The project taught me that even in times of extreme pressure, you can still explore ideas and make wonderful things happen.”