Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition

On entering the exhibition, Nelson Mandela introductory footage, running through a projector, set the tone for the exhibition. Beautiful and powerful!

I’ve experienced lots feelings throughout the exhibition: sadness, speechless, horrified, gloomy, hopeful, inspired. Overall, I was very impressed with the inspirational journey of this great man.

Nelson Mandela has endured so much cruelty, injustice while remaining humble, positive and fighting for peace. An inspiration to humanity!

Great presentation & graphic design, innovative installations and layout, Mandela The Official Exhibition, is a truly brilliant tribute to Nelson Mandela!

Nelson Mandela will always be remember. May he rest in peace.

Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition 

https://facebook.com/MandelaOfficialExhibition

https://twitter.com/mandela_exhibit

https://www.instagram.com/the_mandela_exhibition

Vanity Afro, 07/04/2019

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and be kind. X

Q&A with Salkis Re

        My first 2019 post this year is with Salkis Re; a brilliant artist combining the painting of black             

women/soulful eyes with heart touching poems. 

1. Who are you and what do you do?  

I am an ARTIST, POET and SPIRITUAL HEALER living in Southern California presently...

2. Do you paint first and think of a poem or do you write a poem once you finish the painting?

It depends. Sometimes while I'm painting, verses come to me and then I'll stop painting to write it down before I forget. At other times, the words come to me when I look at a completed art piece. 

3. Are all your poems a reflection on your life experience? 

For the most part, but I do get inspiration from spiritual coaching sessions with my clients. I'll recall something they said that really touched me and I will write about it..

4. The beautiful girls in your paintings have deep expressive eyes. Is there a central main theme? 

Well the eyes are where all the emotions of the heart can be expressed. 

I prefer big doe-like eyes in my work because they convey "delicate" and "innocence" to me.

It's important that my girls are seen as delicate because its not a character trait synonymous with black women unfortunately...

5. What does your art express about you?

It expresses the pure parts of me. By pure I mean that its not trying to be anything. It is what it is: no pretense, no trying to look sexy to get attention, no trying to be anything to win people over like the so-called adult part of me habitually does..

         6. If you could have a billboard with anything on it, what would you say? 

Your Soul Isn't Fully Form When You Are Born. It Grows As You Grow Through Emotional  Experiences.

7. Of all your paintings, what’s your favourite? 

I've tried to pick a favorite and I honestly do not have one. It's funny though, cause I can tell how I was feeling at the time I created each piece. I see sadness in some, joy in others, the longing for love is in most of them... Each one is a piece of me, so I love them all.

8. Who do you credit, if anyone, for encouraging you to be doing what you're doing right now?

I credit the bleeding hearts of the women I've had the privilege of working with spiritually. I also credit all the people who called me black and ugly. I give a big thank you to those who made me feel stupid and unworthy.

 My art is symbolic of sovereignty and gives me self efficacy over my life.

 I'm a self taught artist.

 I didn't wait for anyone to tell me I "could" do it. This is why I'm so passionate about my creative process.

9. Can prospective sponsors organise a big show for you? Absolutely!

10. From which sites can people buy your art? 

You can browse, share and shop via my personal store at:

 http://www.iloveherart.com/  

or my etsy store at:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/SalkisReArt

Discover more about Salkis Re artwork & poems and follow her on Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/salkisreart

Vanity Afro, 05/01/2019

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and be kind. X

Carra Hosiery Runway - Milan Fashion Week September 2018

Carra hosiery runaway first time in Italy, at the Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, was a success.

The show featured coquettish & elegant hosiery modelled by both female and male model.

The CEO & Designer Christi Hairston, is the first African American Hosiery designer to showcase at Milan. 

The day was organised and hosted by a fantastic team at Oxford Fashion Studio, global curators of independent design talent. 

We were greeted with a Champagne reception and I was networking with other Brands and Designers. 

We were then lead to a beautiful room and upon entering the ballroom, each seat held a goodie bag for all guests. 

The atmosphere was amazing, good vibes all over & the fashionista crowd were 

impressed with the overall experience. Big round of applause ended this fantastic show. 

What a brilliant show in Milan Fashion week, one of the most important fashion events in the world! 

Front row: Yaourou and Tiziana

Christi Hairston, Carra Hosiery, CEO & Designer 

Follow Carra Hosiery on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @carrahosiery 

   Vanity Afro, 23/09/2018 


Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Emanuel Mitchell, artist painter

Charismatic man from East London with Caribbean heritage.

Emanuel’s paintings draw on a diverse range of different influences from his own cultural heritage and other African cultures. His applications of paints, mixed media and waste materials are forceful, creating harsh and brutal images that are often authoritative in their expression. His combination of styles and approaches, that link both contemporary graffiti and art of ancient African cultures and echo the Arte Povera movement, embody energetic slashes of colour that create challenging yet poignant subject matters relating to slavery and present-day corporate mentalities.

Emanuel’s work defies the approach of other contemporary art forms; he advocates the more spontaneous, non verbal and spiritually potent qualities of black culture and expression. Burnt sugar and coffee, spilled like blood across the surface of many works, refer to the commodities which perpetuated the immoral business of oppression and provide the dark hues which so palpably express the grief, misery and desperation inflicted on so many. His paintings also present to us a segment of reality which ties our lives to a history that is reflected in the immediate drama of everyday living.

Many of Emanuel’s projects aim to address the lack of awareness many urban, black British youths have of their own history and the contribution given to the world by their African descendants. Like other social artists, Emanuel has looked at history with the discerning eye of a sensitive critic. In creating a visual record which touches upon issues woven into his black ancestry, Emanuel attempts to expose black, British youths to black artistic and cultural expressions, to expand their knowledge and to develop positive self-esteem, encouraging them to embrace their cultural identity.

                                                                   Soul survivor

                                                                      Good Dog

Retro Dance

Warm Vibes

As previous exhibitions at the Tricycle Theatre, Brady Arts Centre and Departure Arts Centre will testify, Emanuel’s artistic style cannot be placed into the usual categorisation of contemporary “isms”. Thus, he distinguishes himself as an artist who is highly responsive to the conditions of life that face all of mankind.

                                          Visit Emanuel Instagram to view more of his work: 

https://www.instagram.com/emanuel.mitchell.art/

Vanity Afro, 31/05/2018

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Q&A with Fashion Illustrator Kyere A. Kwaku

Kyere A. Kwaku is a wonderful young man and an inspiring Ghanaian Fashion Illustrator.

1. Is Kyere A. Kwaku your real name or your artist name? What does it mean?

Kyere A. Kwaku it’s my real name. My dad named me after one of his nephews because of his  good character he exhibited. 

2. What is your art name? What does it mean? 

METAKAY is my art name. The META stands for metamorphosis which shows I easily change and adapt to situations around me and the KAY is the shortened form of Kwaku. 

3. When did you know you wanted to be a fashion Illustrator?

When I got to the University and I realized I wanted to do fashion illustration. It was there my interest heightened.

4. Are you self taught or did you study at art school? 

I did study art at school and I practice a lot too. 

5. What is for you the most important  aspect when you start a new drawing? 

The rendering of the garment. 

6. What’s your favourite brand?

Dior.

7. What is the creative community like in Ghana?

 Its fast growing and soon it’ll blossom and the whole world will hear of us. 

8. What is the best thing about your job? 

The freedom to sketch anywhere, anytime. 

9. Is there anyone in particular that you would love to collaborate with? 

Not really.

10. What’s next for you? 

Growing bigger and holding more exhibitions. 

To explore more of Kyere's work, or to commissiom him, visit 

https://www.instagram.com/metakay 

Vanity Afro, 30/04/2018

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Fashion Designer Sow Namissa Thera

Sow Namissa Thera is a fashion designer based in Mali. 

In the early days, Sow Namissa Thera started medical school to become a doctor but changes in her life made her reassess her career. She then studied Marketing and Communication and ended up working at an events & communication agency. After a while, she resign and she began her journey towards achieving her goal of making a difference in Mali. The fashion designer launched her clothing brand, Ikalook.

Ikalook is a Malian ready-to-wear brand that offers a cool mix of African-printed fabric with western wear. 

              

               

“It’s time that we come into an awareness of our potential. Made in Mali it’s an opportunity for us to develop our country. We can create things ourselves, we have material and manpower.”

The tradi-modern brand Ikalook is for those who like to stand out. Style it as you wish, whether, vintage, boyish, ultra feminine, classic or trendy, no matter the choice, wear this quality brand with confidence. 

              

IIkalook, brand with a great message, beautiful clothing for vibrant human beings who love life and want to be original. Get ready to wear Ikalook with a positive body language, good posture and overall good attitude. Confidence is attractive. 

More info:

http://ikalook.com

Vanity Afro, 22/03/2018

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

African inspiration theme

The use of traditional African wax print fabric has expanded marvellously.
It is very often used in the Fashion industry by Fashion Designers, Fashion Brands, Advertising Campaigns, Magazine and Gifts Shop, Furniture Stores and so on.
Whether it is to embellish, add a touch of personality, or reclaiming the African culture, the African wax print fabric is so visually stunning that it is certain to continue to be all over the place.

Mes coups de Coeur:

African Print Passport holder

Protect your passport and travel in style with an African wax print fabric design.

https://linktr.ee/bespokebinny

African Print Watches

Style your wrist with a stylish unique watch from the collaboration of Vlisco and Komono.

https://www.vlisco.com

African Print Mugs

Everyone has their favourite mugs, if you haven’t, look at these cool creatives looking ones. The vivid colours of these mugs will surely brighten your morning and will give you a reason to smile.

https://www.zazzle.co.uk

African Wax Print Fabric Make Up Bag

Keep your beauty products organised in these beautiful large fabrics Make-Up Bag.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BUBobbinsUp

Hey, why not inject some colours and good African vibes in your life?

  

Vanity Afro, 21/12/2017

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X

Love YAAYaa at Stylist Live 2017

I got to meet the lovely accessories Designer, Nana Evans, at Stylist live. 
Nana Evans is passionate about beauty, confidence, fashion and empowering women of all shapes and sizes.

Stylist live is buzzing with stands, but I stopped at Love YaaYaa because the stand caught my attention for it’s uniqueness, colorfulness, and charming welcoming ladies.

Make a statement with this fantastic range of Leather corset belts, Jewellery, Fulani accessories and Head Wraps. 

In the 2 following videos, enjoy a lively head wrap demo, and Nana Evans feedback about the show.

Follow Love YaaYaa

https://m.facebook.com/loveyaayaauk

https://www.instagram.com/loveyaayaa/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/loveyaayaaltd/loveyaayaa/

www.twitter.com/loveyaayaa

Vanity Afro, 12/11/2017

Be happy, do the best you can, be good and kind. X