Riley Manifesting

Artist Statement

A New Yorker with Jamaican roots, I dedicated 30 years to cultivating young creative minds as a public-school art teacher. My passion for pushing the boundaries of the imagination and inspiring others to connect with their own spiritual and creative roots is the driving force behind my work. My unique art style, which I've coined "Indie Pop Art," is a celebration of the divine nature of people of indigenous descent and icons of contemporary American culture. It's distinguished by a passionate infusion of aboriginal dot painting, and the masterful use of negative and positive space to weave patterns that draw upon the traditions of sacred African and Native American art. This compelling series illuminates the melanated magic of little Black girls, narrating stories of innate magic, boundless joy, and a deep, intrinsic connection to nature used to manifest greatness.