Ayanna Gadsden Geechee artist sharing our culture through vibrant art and storytelling.


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Ayanna Gadsden creates a journey through the rich and diverse cultural landscape of Charleston, blending both past and present with a deep reverence for history and identity. Using mixed media, my practice often begins with digital manipulation, allowing for a precise, refined approach that feels both modern and fluid. The tactile element of painting—whether through physical prints onto canvas or moments of hand-drawn intervention with comic markers—brings a rawness and texture that grounds my work in the tradition of fine art.

 

Central to my vision are visual narratives drawn from the food, people, and spirit of Charleston. From the rich red rice and oysters to collards and cornbread, the essence of Lowcountry cuisine forms a visual tapestry of nourishment, history, and pride. She honor's the legacies of notable figures like Philip Simmons, Frederick Douglass, and modern icons like Kobe Bryant and Michelle Obama, capturing them as beacons of perseverance and cultural influence. The marshes, inlets, and important landmarks are more than just backdrops; they represent the spiritual and historical fabric of the region, invoking a sense of place that is at once intimate and expansive.

 

 Her work often reflects the significance of sacred rituals such as Baptism or the act of weaving sweetgrass baskets—an enduring tradition that carries both cultural weight and personal connection. These symbols are intertwined with modern realities, capturing the ongoing pulse of Black life in Charleston.

 

By weaving these diverse narratives together, my art becomes a bridge between generations, a celebration of both the modern and the timeless. She aim's  to create a dialogue that honors history while embracing the future, asking viewers to reflect on what is remembered, what is lost, and what is yet to come.