Meet Ayanna Smith of Tila Studios in East Point

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayanna Smith.

Ayanna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m an original GA Peach. I am a member of Tila Studios located in East Point, Ga. one of their 2018 Garden Fellows. My foundation in art comes from my father, Daw’u; he is a print-maker and mixed media artist. In grade school, I worked as a Senior Art Apprentice for the City of Atlanta Bureau of Cultural Affairs. There, I trained in different mediums such as oils, ceramics, cubism, and textiles. I graduated from American InterContinental University, with a BFA in Fashion Marketing and Design. It has always been important to connect my love for fashion and textiles with my need for spreading good intentions of hope and healing.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been an easy path. For years, I put my art to the side, focusing on family. That is very hard to do as an artist because it’s a need, not a want to create. I felt empty not creating art. I am a homeschooling mother of three boys. The beginning of the year, I made a goal to find a community of Black woman artist. I went to a CRIT (Art Critique at Tila Studios), and the crew at Tila was very welcoming. Since then, I’ve gotten so much support and guidance. For me, it is definitely necessary to have a community of Black woman artist.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Tila Studios – what should we know?
Tila Studios is a 24 hour co-working space and collective of badass Black women who are all creatively gifted in their own way. Tila has a mission to empower Black women artists.  We recognize that it’s a great need for the type of work we do because Black women only represent four percent of artists that get represented in galleries. Tila is here to help change that narrative. It’s an honor to be one of their inaugural Garden Fellows.  We recently came back from an amazing trip to Miami for Art Basel. We created a really strong presence while in Miami, hosting several events including The EmpowerHer Brunch. The Brunch was magnificent, it really created a safe space for Black women to connect and share their stories.  They really encourage artist development and want to assist in that journey. It’s truly a sisterhood. Tiffany Latrice is an amazingly bright spirit, and she has a remarkable team of Black women doing the work necessary for social change.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Yes. Some characteristics that I feel are important for success are showing up, being present, and doing the work. You must be dedicated and consistent. It’s important to go through the journey of finding out what your purpose is, and the message you need to say to the world.  You have to know why you are doing it. Currently, I’m working on a body of work focusing on Black women and womb trauma. The first series will focus on maternal mortality among Black woman. My use of color and texture is very important in telling that story.  It is also important to embrace the journey of your own healing. I believe it’s mandatory to be introspective and go within. This is mandatory for releasing unnecessary emotional baggage, focusing on my own womb healing. I am using my voice and speaking about issues that are important to me in my art.

Contact Info:

• Address: Tila Studios
  2835 Church St
  Atlanta, Ga 30344
• Website: https://www.ayannaasmith.com/
• Instagram: @art.by.ayanna
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TILAStudios/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/tila_studios?lang=en

Image Credit:
Profile Photo by Dierra Font

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.