Born in 1994 in the USA and raised in South Africa, Azola Kingston is a self-trained visual artist. She is a weaver of narratives, and a chronicler of the inherent regality that courses through Black life.

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The paintbrush became an extension of her hand at the tender age of four. Yet, throughout her artistic journey, the world around her championed a singular view of beauty – one rooted in Western ideals and devoid of the vibrant tapestry of her own heritage. Africa, Blackness, was viewed as something less, existing on the periphery of the art world.

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This narrative, however, began to unravel as she studied fashion in London, New York and Florence. These experiences shattered the notion of art being confined to a canvas. Here, fashion roared with life, a vibrant dance between form and function. It ignited a fire within her, a desire to showcase the undeniable beauty woven into Black fashion, a celebration that transcended mere trends.

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Her work illuminates the opulent essence intwined into the fabric of the black experience. Her artistry praises the intrinsic value of identity and is a celebration of how the everyday can be a testament to the natural brilliance that pulsates within Black communities. Her work demands a complete reframing of what beauty and aspiration looks like. Because what we’ve been conditioned to believe is ordinary, is actually extraordinary .

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