Aliyah Mccorkle- BA (Hons) Illustration with Animation
Aliyah McCorkle is an illustrator who works with mixed media focusing on identity, women, self-expression, character creation and fantasy. Pulling from a whirlwind of spontaneous ideas, thoughts, and emotions from the visions and daydreams in her mind, she creates textured and vibrant scenarios around characters and situations, ranging from everyday life to surreal moments that personally resonate with her. Mixed into her intuitive approach are connections to personal interests in cartoons, surrealism and nostalgia.
Her current work on display is focused on the relationship between black women and their hair, featuring box braids and afros transformed and referencing nature. Throughout these pieces, nods to her own Jamaican heritage appear through the national flower, Lignum Vitae, and bird, Red-billed Streamertail, in the colour palette, flowers and hair beads.
Positive energy is the focus of these artworks. The piece, Point. Blank. Period., homes in on a ‘It is what it is’ energy, full of confidence and pride, day and night, inspired by her childhood memories of using hair clips with words on them as self-expression. The other piece, Flower Afro, is a more relaxed piece, bathing in the sun, connecting with oneself and the earth, having a deserved break. Her afro blooms taking up space as she recharges in the sun, unbothered by the bees.
