Meet Kenia

Kenia Lamarr

Being surrounded by family members who are artists in their own right, I found my love for creating art at a young age. I sketched clothes and portraits of women I found ideal as a child. My formal training at a performing arts school in my hometown of Dayton, OH, influenced me to create healing, process art through portraiture present day. I am often fascinated by the brush strokes of different colors and sizes that compose each portrait I paint, emphasizing the goal to reflect individuality and not necessarily the groups they identify with. 

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My portraits are vibrant and colorful, rarely using the traditional ideas of skin color; to explore the beliefs of identity and normative views to convey the concept of self while contradicting conventional notions of race. I have learned how colors are associated with healing properties in Psychology, Art therapy, Reiki and chakra practices, and the religion of Yoruba in my travels and spiritual journey. I hope to reflect that fine arts does not have to be perfect. It can demonstrate the nuances of our human lives through different layers of paint; some parts naturally harmonize while other brushstrokes stubbornly lay very distinct.

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The creation process of my art is healing for me. I hope it is for the viewers; even if that feeling is momentary. As a black portraitist, I desire to create dialogue around the layers of humanity and strive to gain a more profound perception of humankind.
 

Please inquire if you would like to connect about partnerships, commissions, individual and group workshops.

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