The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse is a dynamic, multifaceted content series supporting and celebrating the achievements of boundary-breaking women of color and individuals who stem from all walks of life and are pursuing their creative passions to the fullest. Through amplifying the voices, journeys and experiences of Black female creatives and gender nonconforming people of color who are defying the status quo to pave one’s own way forward, The Creative Come Up will act as an inspirational mode that provides aspiring creatives with the tools, resources, and education to achieve their dreams and creative pursuits.
Aya Brown On Capturing the Beauty of Unseen Black Womanhood and Sisterhood Through Art
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Aya Brown is a prolific, female artist harnessing her creative practice to capture the beauty of Black womanhood and sisterhood. With an emphasis on bringing visibility to queer Black and brown women, she represents a new generation of innovators reshaping the landscape of art. Using her artform to express love and care for her community, Brown learned to channel her artistic talent at a young age, eventually leading her to document unseen people in her Flatbush neighborhood who faced day-to-day challenges.
Fueled by passion and an unstoppable energy, Brown has been steadfast in using her artistic prowess to reject traditional notions of how Black women have been depicted on social media. As a way to deviate from antiquated standards, she began using brown craft paper, colored pencils and soft pastels to create awe-inspiring works of art highlighting the characteristics, facial features and hairstyles of Black women that have been misrepresented. Most recently, she has harnessed her ever-evolving artistic practice to create a new art series that focuses on spotlighting Black, female essential workers. Placing importance on the value each of these women bring to her community, the series portrays Black female essential workers who have had to face the harsh realities of working during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As part of the second installment of The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse, Brown outlined three vital lessons and key learnings for artists of all walks of life. Leveraging her artistic prowess and highlighting ways she’s left an indelible mark on the industry by staying true to her roots, she discussed how identity informs her practice when creating an image, ways she captures the beauty of Black womanhood through subtle, nuanced details, and how the materials she uses have played a role in shaping how she captures Black women.
To gain insight into how Aya Brown has distinguished herself as an artist and to hear her advice for young creatives looking to deviate from the norm, watch the video above.
Below, check out the featured resources for aspiring artists and creatives.
Art and Gender
Defining Space
Black
Lunch Table
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 6
Episode 5
Episode 4
Dana Scruggs
AYA BROWN
DUA SALEH
SANDRINE CHARLES
CRYSTAL ANDERSON
ELIZABETH ACEVEDO
The Creative Come Up in partnership with Converse is a dynamic, multifaceted content series supporting and celebrating the achievements of boundary-breaking women of color and individuals who stem from all walks of life and are pursuing their creative passions to the fullest. Through amplifying the voices, journeys and experiences of Black female creatives and gender nonconforming people of color who are defying the status quo to pave one’s own way forward, The Creative Come Up will act as an inspirational mode that provides aspiring creatives with the tools, resources, and education to achieve their dreams and creative pursuits.
Below, check out the featured resources for aspiring artists and creatives.
Art and Gender
Defining Space
Black
Lunch Table
Episode 6
SANDRINE CHARLES
Episode 4
ELIZABETH ACEVEDO
Episode 3
DUA SALEH
Episode 2
aya brown
Episode 1
Dana Scruggs
Episode 5
CRYSTAL ANDERSON