We recently connected with Delanie Osborne and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Delanie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

When I create, I hope my art can educate people on the modern-day effects of redlining and discrimination occurring in cities like St. Louis while featuring the unique groups of people who live in these cities and their cultures. If I complete my mission successfully, I hope people remember how I interviewed everyday people who belong to these unique, tight-knit communities around the city, specifically people of color. To recognize the people who keep America going and put their portraits in gallery and museum spaces. With the funds I make from my art, I would like to donate a portion to these communities and local schools that need money for resources.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Delanie and I currently live and study in St. Louis. I am a junior who recently transferred from St. Louis Community College to Washington University, majoring in Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting. Growing up, my family has always been a victim of gentrification and discrimination, and living through this has inspired me to create art about this side of America that is still affecting black communities (and other POC) to this day. Not only the negative effects but how these various groups of people find joy and keep moving forward. I’m proud of my family and how much they have fought. They are persistent and hardworking, all while being loving. I am proud of them for not letting negative things in the world affect them. I love St. Louis and find it to be rich in history and full of unique people. We as a society often idealize and focus on those with fame and money, but why not learn about the people among us? Why don’t we talk more about those who built and continue to keep America moving?

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Before majoring in Fine Arts, I was a graphic communications major. I wasn’t bad at graphic communications and when I expressed my desire to switch my major to fine arts, my teacher was upset and she asked me, “How will you make money?” Many people close to me question why I am majoring in something “I can’t make money from” but they don’t understand that getting these visual messages out and putting POC on museum walls is much more important than money to me. I do plan to teach fine arts at the college level along with painting, but overall, I did not choose fine arts because of the money, but for the knowledge and connections I learn and create.

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

I enjoy seeing the people excited about seeing themselves and the locations they recognize painted and drawn. I showed my brother my paintings that portrayed us and our childhood neighborhood and he was so enthusiastic about my paintings. He and my family get excited and say, “This is black art!” and point at little details only they would understand. I think painting people like those I grew up with makes them feel noticed in a world that doesn’t notice them. When they recognize references they had never seen in a painting and get excited, I also get excited as the artist.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: doz.borne
• Other: email: [email protected]