Piet Mondrian, Mark Rothko and Wassily Kandinski were just a few of the abstract artists that I was introduced to when growing up. They all had the same thing in common, they were white, male, and considered to be the masters of abstraction. The appreciation and celebration of artists like this extended to the art galleries I visited on school trips, the art books that I read while at college and the conversations about art that I had while studying at university. Therefore, over the years I came to the assumption that abstract art was something that well, only white men created.

Over the years, and as my love for abstract art grew, I began to think that there was something wrong with me.  Why was it that as an aspiring black woman artist of Caribbean descent, I wanted nothing to do with creating art that reflected my race and culture, something that most artists that looked like me were doing. No, I wanted to do nothing other than to express myself in a non-representational way.

My desire to create abstract art was the reason why it took me years to finally find my voice as an artist and to share my work. I was fearful of judgement from my friends, family, and the world. I believed that it wasn’t my place to deviate from the artistic expectations that were placed on black artists, surely, I should just stay in my lane and make so called ‘black art’.

However, as the years passed, I grew tired of living in fear and in 2020 I finally found the courage to launch my art business to sell my work. I’m so glad that I did and in doing so I have learnt 3 very valuable lessons just by being true to myself as an artist.

• You are never alone. 

Since sharing my art I have discovered that there are many other black women artists working in abstraction. Having connected and made friends with many of them, we’ve shared stories and supported one another as we find our own unique ways to showcase our work.

I now know that if you are doing something that’s a bit different and away from the norm the chances are that there are others like you too, you just need to take the time to look for them.

•  Don’t limit your creativity to your cultural heritage

I used to think that I was denying my cultural heritage and history by not creating art that reflected my race in an obvious way. Even when I look at most of the art today created by black artists it is all very familiar. Don’t get me wrong black artists creating art that is representative of our culture and story is extremely important and needs to be recognised and appreciated, but, and this is a very big BUT it is not the only way that black artists can and more importantly may want to express themselves.

Creating abstract art does not diminish my love for my race and culture but purely demonstrates the complexities, and versatility of how deep and varied black artists can and should be.  Artists like Alma Thomas, Mildred Thompson and Mavis Pusey all walked this path before me and just like them I refuse to succumb to the worlds limiting beliefs of what a black artist should or shouldn’t do.

• Be brave enough to build your own table if all the seats are taken at another.

Statistics tell us that the art world is still very much dominated by white men. This fact can be disheartening and frustrating sometimes, especially when you know that there is so much more of a diverse pool of artists who are just as talented, if not more so, than the ones that we continuously discuss and revere through the generations.

Therefore, when there are certain limiting structures in place it is sometimes much more beneficial to build your own table, one where you get to sit right at the head and can invite your own guests. For me this meant starting the Black Cube Collective. The Black Cube Collective is specifically dedicated to championing, celebrating, and supporting black women abstract artists from all around the world.

Creating this space has given me a new perspective and I now realise that we all have the power to create our own successes regardless of what has been said and done in the past. It is just up to you to choose a path that feels right for you and to follow it, wholeheartedly.