We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aisha Lee a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Aisha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
As a child, I had always been the artist of the class. Every chance I got, I showed off my art skills by doing extra well on creative assignments. I knew I had a natural talent for art but I wasn’t aware of the idea of using creativity as a job until I watched the movie Selena at the age of 7. I remember being mesmerized by the scenes that showed her drawing clothes then turning them into fashion. I was so inspired by that aspect of the movie that I drew my own version of one of the outfits she created. It was pretty impressive for my first time drawing clothes like a fashion designer. From then on I continued to draw clothes with the aspiration of becoming a famous fashion designer. As I grew older, I began to become more interested in interior design after watching design shows on HGTV. I loved the idea of using the same principles of fashion design, like color and pattern coordinating, to create beautiful rooms. Even though I still enjoyed fashion design I ultimately chose to pursue interior design as my career.
Aisha, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I was born in a family full of musicians, singers and artists, so my artistic abilities came naturally at a young age. I spent my early and most formative years in the vibrant, scenic, and culturally diverse Oakland, CA. This cultivated my passion for visually stimulating objects, patterns and images. The revolutionary spirit of the town and my mother normalizing black pride also impacted my creative sensibilities. I attended the California College of the Arts, and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design and began to embrace my love for painting with acrylics. Attending an art school that focused on critical-thinking and social awareness solidified my desire to create art and design that celebrates Blackness and benefits people that are often disregarded. After graduating, I moved to Kansas and began focusing on my personal life as a wife and mother while maintaining my skills by painting custom artwork and doing freelance design projects. During recent years, I’ve developed an artist identity and business to promote my vision and highlight the beauty of black culture, resiliency and the pursuit of new beginnings.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
During my last pregnancy in 2022 I experienced a psychosis episode due to sleep deprivation, anemia, and stress. That was the first and only time I had ever gone through something that scary and it shed light on my need to make self care a priority. I could have fallen victim to the trauma of that experience, but I chose to use it as a lesson to work harder at creating habits that promote self care. It also inspired me to have wellness as a main aspect in my creative projects.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The pursuit of mental, physical and spiritual wellness is what drives my creative journey. My goal is to create artwork that promotes wellness and design spaces that allows people to engage in activities that help them cope with the stressors of life and heal from traumatic experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.aishaimanisanaa.com
- Instagram: aishaimanisanaa