"Let the past be a place of reference, not residence."
— Roy T. Bennett
"New Orleans youth have overcome hardships such as Hurricane Katrina, increased violence, high unemployment, and lack of resources. The story the hunter has told will be short-lived. For we, the lions, are learning to grow through our pain and create the radical changes we want to see in our community. We are growing through our pain, not going through it. SANKOFA!"
Bria “BrioniClaire” Armstrong, Artist Statement
Bria “BrioniClaire” Armstrong
THE TIME IS NOW. SANKOFA!
Mixed Media: pen, alcohol markers, magazines
“The children and youth of New Orleans are not broken or damaged. We can rise above circumstances and have the ability to define our own path. We are beautiful. We believe in our healing, our restoration, and our future.”
Connection to Youth Vision
(New Orleans Youth Master Plan, 2020)
About The Artist
Hearing the heroic stories of my family, elders and community leaders have inspired me to use my art as a form of activism. They have taught me to live for myself, to keep going despite of the challenges. That’s when I discovered my purpose in life. I declared, ‘MY first sign of life is when I don’t have to apologize for being an orange moon. My love is too loud to have thrown back in my face.’ I make art because it allows me to use my expressive mind, it allows me to bend societal norms of what is beautiful or deemed acceptable. I would describe my art as bold and direct. I enjoy working with mixed media. This ranges to alcohol markers, pens, paint and more. My art is not only my drawings but it is present in my hair, clothes, jewelry and nails because it’s my way of life. I AM ART.
Instagram: @geaux_brioniclaire
Website: louisianacrafts.org/artistdirectory/brioniclaire/