I’ll tell you what freedom is to me. No fear.” - Nina Simone

 

Najee Reese is a 22 year old self taught artist originally from Hopkins, SC and am currently residing in Columbia,SC. She’s been painting for approximately four years and has been a full-time artist for two years. Specializing in acrylic paint she also dabbles in mixed media and watercolor.

With every piece that she creates, the number one goal is always to display the beauty and spirit of blackness. She has a profound love for activism art as well, and as an artist she considers it a great responsibility to tell the story of where we were and where we are going.

She’s never afraid of pushing limits and trying new things through art. Whether it be teaching herself a new skill or finding ways to innovate what she’s done before.

She attributes the greatest parts of her inspiration to her faith. It is shown heavily in what influences her paintings such as her relationship with God, it can be anything music, people, culture, justice, nature or whatever sets her soul on fire.

Her process is spontaneous and free flowing. Once there is a vision for a painting in her mind anything is possible. She often says that she does her best not to put her creativity or thoughts all in one box. In the future, she aspires to own a bookstore/art gallery. There aren’t many African-American woman gallery owners, there should be more, and she confident that with God all things are possible so she will be apart of that.