Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mariah & Makayla Oke. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Mariah & Makayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Mariah Oke
One of the most meaningful works I’ve drawn so far was a piece called “Black Idol”. I was tasked to hang up pieces around my school for black history month and partnered up with leadership to do so. I noticed that the very few African Americans who were told to draw something felt very self-conscious.  I noticed that because there were barely any black students, Mr Howe would have to abort the art idea and hand up some smaller decorations.  I wanted to be a leader and inspire my peers and other students to the beauty of being black.   Seeing my art put out into the school was scary at first, but seeing the many people stopping to look at it made me feel thrilled and was heartwarming.  Not only did I represent the Black Student Union as a community, but I also captured other students of color’s attention by raising awareness to celebrate the beauty of African Americans.  In the art piece, I drew a black cartoon superhero who fights to save everyone’s lives and inspire young African Americans that they can do anything. I could share my creativity with my peers and celebrate my culture as an African American.

Makayla Oke
The most meaningful project I have worked on is my”Light my Fire” piece. During my freshman year in high school, my art teacher told us to create an artwork worthy of being considered to be displayed at an art showcase. I immediately knew I wanted to take on a complex concept. Something that would be looked at with an open mind. It took hours and hours of messy work to create physically as well as mentally. It was meaningful to me because I created it with the intention of displaying juxtaposition. Showing 2 people connect through smoking, normally seen through a negative connotation in most people’s eyes, but also showing them share a core memory of reliability and love, contrasting to what they’re doing physically.

Mariah & Makayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Mariah Oke
I’ve been interested in art from a young age, but during the quarantine, I started focusing on drawing the African community to better connect with my audience. I have expanded to social media with an Instagram account called simply_usz. What sets me apart from other African American artists is how I convey messages through my art. Many artists have different opinions and views on expressing their creativity, but what makes my art uniquely special is how it’s represented through my personal perspective of what art means to me, and sharing that with the world. I am most proud of being able to convey messages in my art without using words. I am proud that others can interpret my art in different ways. I want people to know that as an African American young woman living in America, I do my best to convey the harsh realities of what African Americans go through while living in America and the racist foundation America is built on for people of color.

Makayla Oke
I am a 15-year-old artist who has been connected with the arts from a young age. My parents have had me and my sister very close to the arts community growing up. As a result, I have experienced many different types of art and am exceptional in them. I dance, sing, act, create, and design. What sets me apart from other artists is my drive to be successful at what I do. It’s a huge motivation for me to work hard and master my talents. I would like people to know that I’m serious about becoming great by speaking through my art.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

n/a

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

n/a

Contact Info:

• Instagram: simply_usz & makaylas.creations._

Image Credits

1st Image:: Mariah Oke. Photo by Benny Oke
2nd Image: “Juneteenth” (Artwork by Mariah Oke)
3rd Image: “Black Beauty” (Artwork by Mariah Oke)
4th Image: Makayla Oke. Photo by Benny Oke
5th image: “Light My Fire” ( Artwork by Makayla Oke)
6th Image: Makayla’s Performance in Pink Panther. Photo by Benny Oke