Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Robinson
Tatiana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Life is art. Art is my life, and creating my art saved my life. Growing up in South Carolina was not easy or for the faint of heart. I was raised by my great aunt and uncle because my father was in prison, and my mother suffered from mental illness. There are many stigmas about the South, and many of them impacted my development. I am a 26-year-old black queer woman and am engaged to another black queer woman as well. Navigating my sexuality was confusing and isolating. I had no one to talk to or even tell. I remember a service where the preacher said being gay was a sin and that all gay people were going to burn in hell. This debilitated my soul and made me feel like I was wrong for being me. I tried so hard to deny my identity. Not only was I gay, but I was also a ‘nerd’ into anime, manga, astrology, and art. See, a ‘normal’ black girl in the South was supposed to be into doing hair, playing with dolls, jump roping, and playing sports. Everyone made fun of me, and I had no friends. Every day I would go to my room and draw. I would draw my emotions, my feelings, my pain, and my anguish. I would also draw my dreams, and what I wish my life could be like. Drawing was my refuge. My art saved me.
My work is heavily influenced by my childhood. I learned to use art to process my emotions and express who I am at my core. I am a mixed-media artist. I paint and use various materials such as clay, beads, glass, etc. I’m also a graphic designer, creating digital works using Procreate. I have never really been good with my words. I have a slight speech impediment, but I have always been great with my visuals. When times get rough for me and the world goes dark, I grab my canvas and start painting, giving my emotions a home outside my body. Creating my art is my therapy, aside from actual therapy. My art is for my mental health as well as for those who experience it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not really, but honestly, nothing in life comes easy. Before I became a full-time artist, I worked two jobs and helped with weekly night functions. I was exhausted and burnt out, hopping from one obligation to another. I barely had any time to paint, let alone some self-care. Something had to change, I needed to prioritize what was important, my art or survival. Thankfully, I met my fiance two years ago and she helped me slowly transition from my 9-5’s to a full-time artist.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multi-media surrealist visual artist. From a young age, I’ve always dreamt of being a well-known artist like Frieda Kahlo, painting dreamlike depictions. I worked hard to put on my first solo exhibition last year in December at the Alchemy of Art Gallery, which displayed 17 paintings and even sold one. YAY! It was a learning curve and stressful but I never let it stop me. I cried and then looked in the mirror and told myself, “You can do this!” I pride myself on finding creative solutions, whether it came to promotions or materials for my art, I’d figured it out a different way.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Mental health is so important, and taking care of yourself needs to be a priority because we only have this one life. How many of us have struggled in silence, carrying the weight of everything alone, because we were raised by “strong” people—parents, guardians, or elders—who taught us that being strong meant pushing through, no matter the cost? They did their best, teaching us resilience, but sometimes it feels like that lesson came at the expense of learning how to care for ourselves, to ask for help, and to admit when we’re not okay. Prioritizing your mental health isn’t selfish; it’s necessary, and it’s the most powerful way to unlearn the silence and give yourself the love you deserve.
Pricing:
- “Hold on tight & cry till you can’t no more” Acrylic painting,2024 Price $1,299.99
- “Picking up the pieces” Acrylic painting,2024 $1,122.22.
- “When Death finds you, may it find you ALIVE!”, 4ftx4ft acrylic/ fabric painting, 2024, Price $2,588.88
- “The Let Down” Acrylic painting,2024 price $1122.22
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bakerartist.org/portfolios/bunnyblu333
- Instagram: @bunny_blu333
