We recently connected with Shawntay Gorman and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Shawntay thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

I remember this day like it was yesterday. Me and the Stonerettes (Vanessa and Liv) we’re covering the Santa Cruz music festival. During Ghostfaces set I kept throwing up my the shirt (with the painting I painted of him on it) up, he’d acknowledge it with a head nod but never came and got it. For some reason it did cause Killah Keise to keep looking at me like I was a snack and stand right in front of me all night and look at me like he was gonna eat me 😩 but that’s neither here nor there Lmao Anyways, I painted this painting and put it on a shirt in hopes that I’d somehow get it to one of my favorite Wu Tang (P-Tone aka Tony Starks himself) members by the end of the night, but it wasn’t working.

After his set Me, Vanessa and Liv were standing outside tryna figure out what to do after the festival when the mighty hands of Zeus aka Galaxy Knuckles aka Thor Molecules aka Volcano Hands otherwise known as the one n only Cocaine Biceps himself and his Entourage walk out.
“THERE HE GOES” yells Liv but I just stand there starstruck.
Everything is in slow motion at this moment

“GIVE ME THE F*CKIN SHIRT!” Vanessa yells at me over and over. It finally registers and I pass her the shirt like we was running a relay in the olympics.

“GHOST! MISTER FACE! GHOSTFACE! Hi! Hi! My friend painted this painting and put it on a shirt for you!” Vanessa is screaming as she is stepping on his chicks toes tryna push him out the way.

“You made this shawty?” He says and then He mumbles something else — which I don’t remember what because… slow motion and I can’t believe this is happening.
“Y-y-yes!” I said.

He gives me a hug, says thank you, let’s me take a picture and this is off in the wind like Tony Starks off to fight Thanos in End Game.

Seriously one of the best days in my art career.
Wu Tang forever!

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.

I am a Black and Filipina artivist, who connects art to music, culture, while infusing messages that highlight social justice issues that directly impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Through the avant-garde pop art movement, I am inspired by bright colors and the stark juxtaposition of light and dark and captures these aspects in her work. Aside from my art, I am layered; she is a mother, survivor, friend, and warrior for change.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience on social media through consistency with content. I believe that regularity in posting, maintaining a cohesive theme, and engaging with my followers played a crucial role in growing my online presence. It’s about delivering value to my audience consistently, which fosters trust and loyalty over time.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience has been at the core of my journey in advocating for social justice through art in my city. When initially told that my work was too sensitive, it only fueled my determination to push forward. I started by showcasing my art in local galleries and events, using every opportunity to spread my message. Over time, my persistence paid off, and I went from facing skepticism to being invited to curate art shows and paint murals dedicated to social justice. It’s a testament to the power of persistence and the importance of standing up for what you believe in, no matter the initial resistance.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TaystyArt.com
• Instagram: @shawntay__
• Youtube: @atayleejoint

Image Credits
Kyle J Myers – @ghost_photo83