You’re originally from Guadeloupe, how do you think growing up here might have shaped your artistic practice?
In part, the ambience, colours, landscapes and beaches of Guadeloupe help me find my inspiration. But in general I do take a lot of inspiration from the women who surround me, and they are by no means all from Guadeloupe. I think it’s really important to keep our minds open in order to be inspired by our environments; I am lucky enough to be living among amazing people and I feel the need to share that through my art.
You studied in France, then spent periods working in Paris and London, before returning home to Guadeloupe. How do you think these European cities shaped you, and why was it time to go home?
I think it has shaped my vision and maybe influenced what to bring in, and what’s missing too. My work ethic has evolved from the experiences I had in the different jobs I had across industries, for instance working as an art director for the tech industry taught me a lot about a more corporate style of working, and this proved really helpful in my own work life.
Did you grow up wanting to be a visual artist?
Absolutely not, I grew up wanting to become a teacher first, then by the age of 14, I’d decided I wanted to be a stylist or designer.
It’s important to keep our minds open
You work with quite an array of clients, but you have a very singular style. How do you approach making images for different clients that always feel like ‘you’?
I’ve tried this past few years to stick to my own style. By putting black women in the centre of my illustrations, I was hoping to bring more diversity to the visual realm, by presenting us in a natural way. I really felt this was missing three years ago, and I hope in some small way to have helped with representation.
Do you consider your work to be political?
Not really, but I can’t lie, I sometimes engage with political subjects by illustrating what I think or feel as a statement.
When do you know it’s time to give up on something?
I think this is something I am getting better at with each year. With anxiety I had to, if I wanted fewer headaches…
Can you tell us a secret?
I am not a secret person but I can say I used to be in love with Sisqó when I was around 12, crazy girl right?
I was hoping to bring more diversity
What are some of your fears about where you are at right now?
I feel like right now I need to pursue my artistic experience in another shape.
What books inspire you?
I am not a book person anymore, I’ll read at most three or four books per year currently. But I am more into music and would say soul music is really the genre that moves me, right now.
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