Sometimes An Explanation Isn’t Coming
During NYFW this year, I had the opportunity to speak with a homie about the meaning behind our designs, our art, and the ideas we release into the world. I elaborated on how its a challenge for me to have to continue speaking about the creativity that I am putting on view for others to ingest and he validated me and that’s all I really needed lol.
He put it in real nigga terms for me by saying he could relate because some of the great works being exhibited come from a period of pain and who really wants to keep discussing that. Let me put it in the perspective he did; some people write to transmute their energy. Some people make music. He makes designs clothes. I make art. And we are using these methods as the vehicle to transmute a cycle or period of life that may not have been painful and extremely tough. Like I gotta get this shit off my heart and soul to move on and look at it from a different perspective.
Union
Acrylic, Oil, and Cotton/Poly Twill
24x30
2024 | Los Angeles
So why I am talking about this?? Because when I made “Union”, my first EVER self-portrait, I was going through a tough time. One of the toughest times in my life. PERIOD. Full stop. And I’ve already alluded on social media to some of the pain I went through that culminated in making this painting and I also alluded that I would go a little more into detail. Well babes, I CHANGED MY MIND. I’m not talking about it anymore because I’m moving on. Ingest the painting and feel what you feel which I hope is joy, love, and enchantment.
What I will elaborate on is that painting that version of myself has led me to a new expression in my art that allows me to bridge both fashion and art together in a way that feels very organic and natural for me. I get to design clothes and grant myself and my subjects the permission to wear these elaborate designs that are uniquely designed to speak to beauty of one’s life journey and surface level beauty in the garments and portrait. Creating these ornamental and embellished designs for my art feeds my inner teenager that was so geeked designing prom dresses for my friends in high school. This expression and medium is allowing me to connect very deeply with little Ariel and teenage Ariel. I’m living.
So all that to say, while there will be no explanation for “Union”, there will be more background and behind the scenes photos and commentary on my artwork in the near future. I asked God to show me how good it can get and i’m going to show y’all just how good God has made it in the next few weeks. Stay locked in with me cause I promise its going to get GOOODDDD ✨💗.
