Conversations with Siatta Sepha

Today we’d like to introduce you to Siatta Sepha.

Hi Siatta, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Almost six years ago, I started as a first generation Liberian- American girl, who just graduated high school choosing software development as my major. I didn’t like software development. I was just using that as a mask, from people asking about my “next steps”, my parents who had the highest expectations of me, and friends that knew where they were going. Then down the line I learned we all don’t know where we are going. Down the line I made friends who inspired me, went to places finally feeling wanted, and spent time with myself, finally understanding what I wanted and what I reflect in real time.
While I was stuck in my software development lie, I had a friend, Ana, who was in film. I always admired how she went for a creative field and told her let me know if she ever needed help with anything. She had a camera and always needed a subject. so she would call me, and I would be down to meet her at the nearest park, getting ready to take funny or aesthetically pleasing videos. Then we started making skits and I started pitching ideas. I started to love being infront, or behind, or anywhere around the camera. I felt grateful. And every time I would pitch ideas, Ana would ask, “Dude, are you sure you wanna do the computer thing?” Looking deep into my soul, I knew the mask was lifting and she could truly see me. So then I switched majors middle of Sophomore year from software development to film and media arts production. Finally, I could breathe better, I had clearer vision of what I really wanted to do and see and touch. I had a sense of all the possibilities I could become and it made me want to create any and everything. I would find a mic in my garage and suddenly I have a radio show for the next two months. I started journaling and sketching and just recording everything. The more I would experience and experiment, the more ideas came into my head, through every form of expression. Writing, drawing, editing, painting, directing, acting, styling, modeling, composing all gave me a sense of fulfillment. So for the next four years I did just that, and continued to understand why I am on this planet and why I feel the things I do when I create art. I became closer to myself. Ive wrote, directed, and edited five feature films and four music visualizers since then. I creatively directed countless amounts of photoshoots and digitally design many graphics for flyers, art events, freelance commissions, and self-produced projects. I was able to produce and design my own fashion line last year and took part of an annual university fashion show. I also write poetry and create contemporary art using mixed media. Now writing this in October of 2025, being a recent college graduate, currently editing another short film, I can identify myself as a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, and filmmaker and very grateful of my journal.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been smooth. I would go ahead and blame a lot of the struggles on external forces like my parents telling me I won’t make enough money. Truthfully, I never really cared about the money aspect. Honestly, the battle was within myself many times. As cliche as it sounds, I had voices in my head telling me I wasn’t good enough. I needed outside validation for me to feel okay pushing my art out. I also dealt with heavy grief which pushed me so far back, I couldn’t create for a few months. I ended up lacking energy to create and needed space to get back to myself and what I loved. I needed some time so I took a break from school. Another struggle outside of that was actually finding time to create. There were times I had school then work right after, and my body couldn’t find time to get up and still create. Those were a just a few struggles I went through.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in multi-disciplinary artistry, filmmaking, and literature! I use many modes of expression to reflect myself and the things I love and experience. As a multimedia artist I explore themes of identity, heritage, and emotion through bold and abstract portraiture. I blend digital and traditional techniques like graphic media, collage, paint, and graphite pencil. When it comes to contemporary arts I continue to celebrate expressive freedom through personal narrative and cultural influence.

I guess what I’m most known for is my filmmaking and video production. I would say I specialized in film because I ended up going to school for it, but I just specialize in art. When it comes to filmmaking I write, direct, produce, and edit most of my films, of course with the help of my amazing friends. My feature films often portray themes of exploration, emotion, and self-introspection. In my film, “Ice cream Girl”, we follow two girls in the summer stylishly on a random mission while having dialogue about friendship, nostalgia, and self-fulfillment. My other film, “Are You Still Down”, is a beautifully shot visual testament to poetry, emotional longing, and rawness. Following an odd girl named Ola, we witness her becoming obsessive and yearnful after having one short conversation with a mere stranger.

Other than my short films, I direct, produce, and edit music visualizers to songs with concentrated themes like Bonita Applebum by a Tribe Called Quest. I’ve also been creating music since 2022, trying to strengthen my knowledge and practice my craft, I recently released my song, “Interdimensional” on Spotify.

Im also known for my photoshoots and creative direction I release a couple times a month. Being the subject of most photo and video shoots, I can create thematic visuals and a sense of familiarity in every photo. From being a skater girl to embracing mother nature, to being Leeloo from fifth element, there are no limits to what I can create with clothes, a camera, a location, and a drive to create.

Recently, I was extremely proud of my artworks that was held in the Mary Kristner gallery from August 14-september 7th because of the significance of the show. The exhibition was dedicated to transformative themes that reflected black identity, culture, and community. Overall, I am most proud of all my films. I put in a lot of work writing the scripts, scouting locations, holding auditions, producing and editing the film. I truly enjoy being apart of that journey and watching my ball of ideas turn into a a full finished production.

What sets me apart from others is my passion. My unstoppable talent. My undeniable drive. I’m Greedy. It’s like I am truly a vessel of everything that has ever…existed. That brings me a sense of belonging me. The feeling of imagining, of crafting, and designing is of the truest fulfillment for me. I know I have to create because I can’t function without it. I wake up everyday thinking of another video idea, another creative project, another collaboration, another writing piece. This is what sets me apart.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I honestly don’t know. I could say the film industry will be overtaken by AI but..won’t everything lol?
I think some changes I am excited to see is more weird black films being put on pedestals. I think in the past 40 years it was a time where a lot of black avant-garde directors were making beautiful strange films that wasn’t in the spotlight. I can say there are spaces now for the creators of such calibers to shine and I can’t wait for more in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://siattasepha.wixsite.com/m0ther-s-art-house/films
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imyourm0ther?utm_source=qr
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siatta-sepha-3680011ba
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@imyourm0therr?si=pOVo3nX-Tib55_S8
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0b6lmDWg6vc8ETQP2LdFTP?si=Ub6SNEqBSWSgdLGChMYj5w

Image Credits
Ana Morales
GCPS media
Yannick Nzeza
Digue Guilavogi
Maya Marshall
Jocelyn Jlv.