Title: Bearing Witness
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Creative Experience
My work is rooted in expanding Western figurative traditions through
paintings and drawings that engage both the physical and spiritual, the
past and the present. In order to be as free as I possibly can, with my
imagination, I must play, and take up space on the canvas and in life.
Influenced by my lineage and inspired by thinkers like Bell Hooks, and
Toni Morrison, my work aims to create a space of hope, love, and
curiosity.
Depicting the black experience beyond tragedy, I paint my
canvases, conjuring a dreamscape with motifs and figures that embody
unbounded freedom. Through abstraction and figuration, I tell these
untold stories, honoring the multifaceted nature of my ancestors and I,
creating my own hopeful possibilities.
Biography and links
Montaysia Yuneek Sims hails from Rockford, Illinois, but found herself navigating life's complexities in Las Vegas, Nevada, during her formative years.
Raised amidst familial challenges and frequent relocations, she sought refuge in the sanctuary of creativity, delving into art and music within her room. This birthed an exploration of romantic movies, coming-of-age stories, and soupy cartoons. Stuck in her head, she vomited on the internet during her high school years. In other words, she became immersed in the world of online art, creating art illustrations digitally.
During her sophomore year of college, she took an African American studies elective with Dr. Valerie Taylor, a woman she will never forget. Her trajectory changed. Grounded in an understanding of herself, a wanting for more, she connected her art practice to these studies and began minoring in the subject.
Her academic pursuits became an exploration of identity, delving deep into themes of belonging, blackness, and joy through her art. During her senior year of her undergraduate degree, Montaysia became inspired by creative black figures like James Baldwin, Jacob Lawrence, Toni Morrison, Faith Ringgold and Bell Hooks. Her paintings became studies and reflections, a language between herself and her artwork.
She continues to explore these themes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
2024 - Title: Bearing Witness
- The Hive, Worcestershire, UK (Work on display: IRL & VR gallery)