Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Robinson.
Hi Kendall, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a risk-taker, and that mindset has shaped every part of my journey. In college, I made the bold decision to leave a pre-med track and pursue an art degree, a choice that led me to begin working professionally as an artist while still in school. During that time, I collaborated with major brands, illustrated children’s books, and quickly realized that creativity could open doors far beyond a traditional career path.
After graduating from Howard University in 2022, I took another leap of faith and moved to Spain to teach English, despite not knowing anyone or speaking the language. That experience transformed my life. Living abroad allowed me to fully immerse myself in new cultures, and I set a personal goal to visit all seven wonders of the world before turning 25—a milestone I completed six months early along with traveling to 39 countries.
I documented my journey online, and what began as personal storytelling grew into a community of nearly 100,000 people. That platform led to opportunities such as sharing my story on The Tamron Hall Show. Today, I am a full-time artist based in Washington, DC, continuing to travel, create, and use my voice to encourage others to take risks, explore boldly, and build lives that feel authentic to who they are.
Alright, 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?
For the most part, this journey has been incredibly rewarding. The greatest challenge has been learning to trust myself while navigating a non-traditional path. Since graduating, I’ve witnessed my peers take many different directions, whether stepping into 9–5 careers, pursuing graduate school, or dedicating time to new interests and passions.
Choosing the road less traveled can be isolating at times, especially when living across the world from friends and family and navigating life across time zones. In moments like these, I’ve learned how important it is to stay grounded in my purpose and to remember why I chose this path in the first place. What continues to guide me most is my faith in God, along with the practice of envisioning my future self reflecting on the life I lived. I want to be someone with stories to tell, someone who can say they took risks and embraced life to its fullest.
This experience has deeply fueled my artwork as well. I’m able to draw from these rich, lived experiences and translate them onto the canvas, bringing something meaningful and honest to life. That process of turning experience into art is incredibly fulfilling to me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At its core, my work is rooted in a deep love for painting life, specifically the Black form. Becoming an artist has been my dream since early childhood; it was my first love. Growing up, I often visited museums with my family, yet rarely saw images that reflected myself or the people I loved. When I did encounter such representations, they were frequently rooted in trauma or confined to a painful historical narrative.
As an artist, I feel a responsibility to merge history with beauty and to uplift stories that deserve greater recognition. I am committed to resisting narratives that reduce African American people to moments of suffering alone, instead choosing to highlight our triumphs, tenderness, and everyday brilliance. My travels throughout various pockets of the global Black diaspora have deeply informed my practice, inspiring me to reveal how interconnected we truly are.
I consider myself a contemporary American artist with a profound responsibility to represent my subjects with dignity, radiance, and care. One of the aspects of my practice I am most proud of is incorporating people I know into my work. A series featuring my classmates from Howard University remains one of my most meaningful and successfully executed projects.
What ultimately sets my work apart is the way I see and engage with the world. I place great value on my openness to life and lived experience, and I am deeply grateful that my perspective and creative vision resonate with others.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love Atlanta for its vibrancy, it’s a true hub for music, culture, and history. Over the years, the city has managed to remain relevant not only within the United States, but on a global scale, and I find that incredibly beautiful. There’s an energy here that feels alive and constantly evolving.
If I had to choose a least favorite thing, it would definitely be the traffic as most people would agree. But even that speaks to how dynamic and exciting Atlanta is. The congestion reflects how many people are drawn here to build lives, pursue dreams, and become part of the city’s ever-growing story.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fineartbykendallrobinson.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fineartbykendallrobinson/?hl=en
- Other: tiktok: @kendallrobin.sonn
