Words by Manòn Voice
Images provided by Delisha
Delisha is a creator rendering large-scale representations of abstract fairytale worlds blended into vivid hues and textures, experimenting along the vast spectrum of play and politics. Delisha has always been a storyteller. As a young, self-described army brat and only child, she traveled around often, traversing the landscapes of southern states like North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee, offering her imagination a sense of nature’s role in art and the lived experience.
Manòn Voice: I’ll go ahead and get started. I first want to ask you, what is your background, and what role has art played in your life?
DELISHA: Oh, I have to go all the way back to when I was a kid. I’ve been creating things and experimenting with different mediums since I was about eight, with most of my training in fiber arts. That’s quilting, knitting, looming, and sculpture work. I also have training in pottery, photography, and painting. But with all those being said, all those mediums together have put me in a great position to be a storyteller.
MV: That is amazing. So you started at eight and could dabble in a wide range of artistic mediums. And was this mostly self-initiated, or was it art school or art programs that were your introduction to these different modalities of art practice?
DELISHA: I’ve always been a part of art clubs and after-school programs, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve mostly taken classes for painting and sculptural work and photography. I don’t necessarily have a degree in any of these things, but It’s who I am. It’s really a part of my DNA. So natural.
MV: I read your bio on your website, where you mentioned that you were a Nomad of the South. Can you tell me more about that and how place and geographical landscape have influenced your work?
DELISHA: I think I have a particular advantage in understanding what nature is and being connected to it. Living in the city, the concrete jungle, you don’t get to touch grass as much as you’d like, and there are things I miss about living in Southern states where it’s more natural; you feel more connected. And being raised in the South but originally from a big city (Chicago) has also given me the perspective of both views. Like, what it’s like to live in the suburb, what it’s like to live in the city. And the juxtaposition between those two is just vast. I came back to Chicago when I was about 16. But I miss taking my shoes off, running through the grass, and climbing trees. I feel like that’s when God talks to you the most.
MV: I can just imagine how that has contributed so much to your worldview that goes into shaping your art. You are somebody who holds multitudes. So if you were to describe yourself as an artist, what words or language do you usually use?
DELISHA: Storyteller and a creator. Because I mix so many mediums, I like to push the boundaries, take more risks, and do something I haven’t seen before.
MV: And how would you describe your particular unique style?
DELISHA: I would say it’s a dreamscape. So between the storytelling and the reality, I want to tell something that’s a little in between the dream and the reality, with the characters being children, but the children are really us. So I’m telling stories about our experiences as adults, but through a child’s eyes, becauseI think we are all still children. I mean, we still make mistakes. We’re still learning. We still have fear in us. And those are all stories that would be appreciated if we gave ourselves more grace. And that’s why I depict us as children.
MV: That’s so beautiful. I’m so fascinated with your storytelling using these otherworldly characters, this dreamscape reality you invented. I’m intrigued by what drew you to create your own world.
DELISHA: Thank you for that. To be honest, it just came from me being a lonely kid. I was an army brat. I grew up by myself the majority of the time. We moved around a lot. So being alone and being to myself, I just started creating stories about people I would see. And then also listening to other people’s problems, whether in the news or maybe I overheard a conversation about how we’re living and treating each other, which was always a curious thing to me.
MV: I also know that you layer your art with hidden meanings.
DELISHA: Yeah, I think I went through a stage where I was creating work of children being shot. Not necessarily the bullet going through them per se, but there may have been their spirit coming out of their bodies or something like that. But I think that was just a lot of symbolism of wanting to tell a story about how important our lives are.
MV: Would you say that your work has a social justice edge?
DELISHA: I would say so because being black in America is such a political thing. Being white in America is a political thing. So I think that it’s social change, especially when we’re talking about black and brown children. And it is essential to talk about where we come from and who we are, what the meaning is for, and add a lot of our culture because it’s something we can’t hide from.
MV: I’m interested in the colors, textures, and materials you are drawn to when creating your pieces. How do you choose? Is it consistent throughout most of your pieces? You seem to be drawn to the vibrant colors.
DELISHA: I think the world is vivid. I wish it had more color to it, kind of thing. So I’m drawn to bright colors. I don’t have a favorite color, per se. I like them all, but with textures, I prefer painting large-scale paintings instead of smaller ones. Something 6ft by 5ft would be ideal to get that dreamscape idea and bring you into the painting. I can kind of paint in three-D, where the cartoon feels like an actual TV screen cartoon. So that is my favorite skill. I call it building. I willbuild an entire world on that canvas and make it feel like you can just walk into it and be a part of the characters. And the vibrant colors really help with that as well.
MV: Is there something you want people to know about your work?
DELISHA: I just want us to give ourselves a little more grace and see ourselves more as children. Like, we only know some things. We still need to learn compassion. We still need to learn many different aspects of ourselves outside of our human form and appreciate life better. I want people to dream a little bigger. I hope to provide them with those stories to say what if. Or that could happen. I just hope they go away with a great story.
MV: You expressed excitement about participating in BUTTER. What are your overall thoughts on BUTTER and what it represents for yourself and other artists?
DELISHA: It’s a beautiful thing. I love that they give 100% of the proceeds back to artists. That is phenomenal, especially in a space where I’ve met so many artists who have learned to distrust many people. So any organization or anyone on the artist’s side has the artist’s back; that’s where a great relationship starts that will last 20 to 30 years. And that’s what I’m excited about, to establish the connection with Butter, that we can go further down the line. And hopefully, the response will be amazing.
To keep up with Delisha follow her on:
Instagram @delisha____
Website: flyherobrand.com
