My artistic journey began before I could even speak. Drawing became a language of its own, and I soon found myself immersed in visual arts like painting, sculpture, and printmaking. In 2016, I expanded into digital illustration, launching my freelance business, Assata’s Magic. This venture deepened my creative exploration and connection to the community. My introduction to animation came in 2017 through the Cooper Union Summer Arts Intensive in New York City. Shortly after, I held my first solo exhibition, Beautiful Things, at the 584 Gallery in Durham, NC (2018). Combining digital illustration, sculpture, and animation, I addressed themes of subversive beauty standards and identity as a Black, Queer, Muslim artist raised in the American South.

In 2021, I earned my degree in New Media Animation and Africana Studies from UNC Asheville, graduating early. During this time, I presented at research symposiums and at the Asheville Art Museum. My project focusing on self-love and healing during the pandemic earned the Art For Our Times award, reinforcing my belief in art’s transformative potential. This theme continued in 2022 during my residency with the Durham Art Guild and The Black on Black Project. Over six months, I hosted various community events—from open mics and youth workshops to pop-ups—culminating in my immersive exhibition, I Am An Ancestor Too. This project, later shown at the Carrboro ArtsCenter in 2024, explored themes of radical self-love and generational healing through six self-portraits incorporating painting, sculpture, animation, poetry, and virtual reality.

My recent work reflects a deepening commitment to environmental justice and community healing. As bell hooks wrote, “Only love can heal the wounds of the past.” This belief connects my evolving practice to themes of eco-grief and environmental racism. For Uproot (2024), a group exhibition at Northstar in Durham, NC, I created a piece exploring how our food systems impact economic disparity and bodily autonomy in North Carolina. Addressing white supremacy and its consequences head-on, my work aims to confront these issues while fostering optimism. I believe the solutions we seek are already embedded within our histories and communities.

Currently, I am a fellow with Grounded Possibilities, finishing in May 2025. My ongoing project addresses eco-grief—an emotional response to environmental degradation and systemic racism. This immersive installation will guide BIPOC individuals through healing processes, offering space to reflect on history and imagine sustainable futures. The project, featuring a geodesic dome and a VR narrative covering grief, healing, and hope, underscores my belief in the resilience and beauty within BIPOC communities. By centering love, healing, and imagination, my work seeks to inspire collective action toward a more just and vibrant world.