I was born and raised in a family of picture framers with parents who only sold Black art. This sparked an obsession with capturing my people—friends, family, and even myself—starting as young as nine years old. Having grown up surrounded by art in my parents’ shop and from watching, perhaps, way too many movies, I understood that by framing a single moment in a certain way you could tell a complete story. This love for economic storytelling led me to screenwriting and copywriting, but over time I used fewer words and began to paint pictures. A lot of my work is based on photographs I captured as a young girl, as well as more universal coming-of-age moments, like going to the mall with a young love or having to sit still for a family portrait. Imagemaking and painting have created a portal where I can engage with my younger self, now as a woman who has the power to interpret and express herself more fully.