Meet Favour Isioma. A young, multi disciplinary artist whose practise is deeply rooted in emotions and mental health. She likes to contribute to the conversations about issues surrounding mental health and emotional well-being. She works with a variety of mediums, but is currently exploring painting and embroidery to touch on the concept of healing, and the emotional weight of everyday life–those silent, in-between moments that nobody really talks about.

Would you say that your art reflects your personal struggles with emotions and mental health? Yes, but not always, it also has to do with other people and the message I want them to get from it. It’s mostly therapeutic but also reflective. So, while it can be about my personal experiences, it’s not always about me or my struggles.

In what ways does painting help you self regulate? The process is therapeutic and I kind of zone out when I’m working, because I have to be mentally in tune with my work. Not being in tune with my work makes it feel like I’m creating for someone other than myself. So, I typically work with music in the background while I have my reference and then I just zone out as the work progresses. It is quite calming.

What’s the longest amount of time you have spent on a painting? I typically spend a week on each artwork, but that also depends on the size and complexity of the work. I don’t like working with deadlines as I prefer to spend as much time that’s needed for a job, but in a week I am usually done. It also gives me time to do other things like running personal errands or just hanging out with my friends. That way, I can recharge well enough to keep creating. I haven’t started taking commissions yet though, most people find my style a little weird, but if I got one I would definitely take it. What’s one quirky habit or ritual you have before you start a new project? I like to deep clean my work space, it helps me declutter mentally. A clean and organized work space helps me stay focused. I’m always blasting music on my speaker too. Music transports me to a different realm where I can basically dissociate.

Which of your artworks would you say most reflects your personality—and what does it say about you? I ruin everything. Done in a moment of self reflection, after a failed talking stage. The one with the purple monochrome painting titled, I Ruin Everything. It’s one of my recent favorite works which I did in a moment of self reflection, after a failed talking stage. It mostly reflects how I’m able to look at things from a different angle all the time, especially when it comes to my relationships and interactions with others. I’m able to see my own self and see the role my actions might have played in ruining things with people. I like that I’m able to self reflect and take responsibility for my actions. That is what the painting is about.

Looking beyond the immediate future, what legacy do you hope your art will leave behind, and what conversations do you hope it will continue to spark? Hoping it will help people self reflect about themselves. I want people to see me as someone that wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable with her work, I think that’s something rare. I remember my friend referring to me as, “The girl who conquered her emotions.” That is how I would like people to see my work, I want them to not be afraid of vulnerability. What’s one thing in your studio you absolutely can’t create without (besides your main tools)? It has to be my speaker, because I absolutely cannot work without music. I like violin sounds, and I love listening to artists like Abba, and Strome. I listen to a wide variety of artists. For me it’s more about the music than the artist.

What’s your secret superpower outside of the art studio? I’m more of a listener than a talker when I engage with people, and for some reason people are usually willing to be open to me and talk about their issues with me. They would talk about things they usually wouldn’t tell other people.

Describe your art using three emojis? 💙blue heart - calmness, which is what I want people to feel when they see my artwork. 😅awkward - my art might make people feel uncomfortable, especially when they see themselves in it. 🥲one tear drop - being vulnerable without showing all your emotions, which kind of explains who I am trying to be.