It's a place filled with feelings, simple shapes, and bright, bold pops of color. They are the results of spurts of inspiration derived from various emotions, often sparked by my interactions with others or observations. Some subjects deal with loss, the complexity of friendship, love, or its lack. Often in my pieces, there is a singular figure with one or two colors. The color represents a mood or vibe. For example, red almost always denotes pain and yellow joy or reconciliation. Color, pattern, and texture are elements used to tell my story. I consider myself a figurative artist and occasionally use photographs and other images as my jumping points for creation. There are four categories: People, Animals, Plants, and Objects. For me, variety is the spice of life. I hope that you enjoy this eclectic glimpse into my inner world.
Anthony Amiewalan is a first-generation Nigerian American, who was born in the South, grew up in the Midwest, and for a short time living on the West Coast. He is based in Brooklyn, New York, with his longtime partner. Anthony pulls from his Nigerian heritage, inspired by wood carvings, colorful geometric patterns, and clean, sharp lines to create his illustrations. He incorporates his experiences living throughout the country, traveling abroad, and interpersonal relationships to develop what he calls "a visual diary." Anthony's educational and professional pursuits have been in economic development, specifically in areas that support women and minority-owned businesses. Although Anthony has never formally studied art, he has always loved painting and drawing as a form of self-reflection and mediation – and as an outlet for creative expression. Anthony hopes to incorporate his love for art and his passion for economic development to collaborate and support local makers to reproduce his illustrations into beautifully designed products.
Notable Projects & Collaborations:
On May 21st, 2021 – The website launch
In June 2021 – Collaborated with Carousel Press, a Queens-based women-owned business, to produce a line of totes.
In August 2021 – Partnered with Peace & Riot, a Brooklyn-based black women-owned business to sell greeting cards.
In September 2021 – Partner with Local Café, a Brooklyn-based black-owned café, to sell totes.
In October 2021 – Introduced a line of sweatshirts, a photo campaign captured by fashion photographer Mikael Schulz.
In December 2021 – Presented artwork for the group Exhibition of UNDERSCORE_. This show examined the mind and body and the dissociation between the two with fellow artists Mikael Schulz and Lorraine D. Glover.
In January 2022 – Self- published "A Visual Diary," an artbook that illustrates life experiences through color, pattern, line, and texture through 2019 - 2021.
In April 2022 – Partnered with the Word is Change, a Brooklyn-based bookstore, to celebrate the release of "A Visual Diary" and sell the book at the store.
In July 2022 – "A Visual Diary" was featured in AphroChic, a Brooklyn-based black women-owned curated lifestyle magazine.
On November 1, 2022 - Self- published "Jojoba," a coming-of-age story about overcoming life's setbacks and redefining success.
On January 28, 2023 - BGSQD bookstore hosted a book event, where I shared my journey in publishing my books and read an excerpt from Jojoba.
On April 9, 2023 - I exhibited art at "A Marvelous Black Boy Art Show," a national exhibition tour that features the work of black men, visual artists, and artisans.
From June 1 - August 25, 2023 - show artwork in the " Love is the Norm" group exhibition at the Yonkers Public Library.
