We recently connected with Dejiah Archie-Davis and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Dejiah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I remember spending most of my childhood dreaming of my career as an Artist. Growing up, I had a wide imagination for who I wanted to be and what would make me happy. I found my happiness at at young age when I started to draw pictures and create short stories. I was so inspired by television shows and books that I started to create fictional stories of my own. I would mostly look forward to creating and coloring a cover art for my writing. I became so engaged with building a connection between art and writing that at some point I knew that I wanted to be a storyteller.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Someone recently called me a ” Renaissance Woman” and I’m sticking to that. I am a multidisciplinary artist who focuses on making mixed media work, involving photography/video, sculpture and drawing. I got into my practice several years ago when I first acknowledged that I have a strong relationship with art. I didn’t know where it would take me or how to even make a career out of it- I just knew that I loved it. As a storyteller, I like to capture reality based on bridging memories between the past and the present.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Being intentional with my time is a lesson that I am still learning as a creative. I think it’s important to have discipline when engaging yourself with things you feel passionate about. Through each cycle in my life, whether its a new assignment, new project, or new medium- I’ve learned that’s it’s really important to study what you love. This lesson reoccurs through different stages of my life, where it may require more stillness and less activeness. Or less creating and more writing. Every moment that I spend studying either myself or my craft, I feel more acquainted with what’s ahead.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I think one of the most rewarding experiences as an artist are the connections I make along the way. I love to look back and reflect on how many amazing people I’ve met through my work and it feels timeless. I create art not only for myself but for the younger generation of black artist. Being able to leave a legacy or impact on this world is really the motivation. We all help each other when we decide to live a life that is catered to our natural abilities and gifts. And everyone has something to offer. I see that in everyone I meet.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.photographybydej.com
• Instagram: @inx0vate and @inx0vateart

Image Credits
The first picture of myself (with blazer) was captured by Deondre White.