Quanaisha [Kwon-ai-ja] Stafford is an artist born and raised in Queens, New York. Quanaisha’s feminine, floral, and inclusive work represents the diversity amongst Black women.

Quanaisha works with paint on canvas to express the diversity amongst women she has seen throughout her life, such as her mother, close friends, etc. In addition to this, Quanaisha’s love for painting emerged after seeing the work of two powerful women: Georgia O’ Keefe and Frida Kahlo. By discovering and sharing her interpretations of these inspirations and others, she finds her magical yet realistic style.

Quanaisha’s vision and intention with her painting shares much of the same qualities one would find in a mirror: the ability to see oneself. Her work observes people through a lens where their beauty is endless, where their quirks are rosy, and where one can find love and self confidence.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My art is powerful black femininity juxtaposed against mother nature and all of her whims. The majestic and maternal blend of these elements allow me to paint in a manner that feels familial and familiar while my mind absorbs energy of my surrounding environment.

Although I have had a conglomerate of influences in and around my art career; Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo are two icons that stand out as looming presences from my art origin up until today. Their use of textures , unorthodox color combinations, and ability to portray their personal stories through paint are traits I try to emulate in my work. The best advice I’ve ever been given is to focus and care about the things that I can control. The greatest sacrifice I made for my craft is that I had to get rid of my pride and insecurities to become a better artist. The more I focus on my craft, the more my artwork will blossom into the beauty I envision it to be.