Aya Brown
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aya Brown (born 1995) is a Black, lesbian American visual artist, whose drawing practice centers representation of Black community experiences in Brooklyn, New York.[1]
Early life and education
Aya Brown was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout childhood, Brown would draw as a form of her creative expression.
In adulthood, Brown pursued a university degree in Bachelor's of Fine Arts at The Cooper Union Advancement of Science and Art in Manhattan, New York.[2] During her time at Cooper Union, she faced difficult experiences connecting to her identity as a Black student, leading to her decision to leave the program in 2017.[1]
Notable works
With her series of drawings made in 2020, Essential Workers Series, Aya Brown depicted Black and Brown essential workers in New York.[1] Brown witnessed the care and labor of the many Black and Brown nurses working during the COVID-19 pandemic after seeking emergency care at a New York hospital in January 2020.[3] Reflecting on her experience at the hospital inspired her to create artworks with essential workers in her community as the main subject.[3] Working in colored pencils on brown paper, Aya Brown created the series of drawn portraits representing essential workers from her life in New York .[4]