Capturing Culture With Clarity With Aneesah
Aneesah, is a visual artist whose work moves beyond aesthetics into something more intimate and soulful. Inspired by culture, simplicity, and emotion, she frames life’s subtleties through a minimal lens that carries depth. Her art lingers between tradition and modernity, capturing cultural narratives, everyday lifestyles, and customs with quiet reverence. Each piece feels like a gentle reflection, where emotion becomes form and simplicity speaks volumes.
Can You Tell us about Your Journey into Visual Art and what First Drew You to this Path?
I fell into visual art slowly. It wasn’t so much a sudden revelation but so much as a feeling that kept nudging me. Growing up in Nigeria, I was surrounded by everyday rituals, fabrics, stories and small moments that felt full of meaning. I started making work because I wanted to hold onto those moments and show them simply and honestly.
Studying Tourism at university widened that curiosity for me. It taught me to look for diversity in places and people and gave me a deeper love for culture that now feeds my practice.
How would You Describe Your Artistic Style, and what Emotions or Stories do You Hope it Conveys?
I’d describe my style as minimal but deeply cultural. I draw a lot from traditions, customs, and the lifestyle around me, and I try to simplify them into something clear and emotional. Although I might admit I don’t have a lot of works out there yet because I have not posted them yet, which I will do soon, culture is at the heart of my work, not just as history, but as everyday life. the way we dress, gather, celebrate, or even just exist in quiet moments.
Through my art, I want to show that culture isn’t distant or complicated; it’s alive, it’s intimate, and it’s part of our identity. My pieces are like reflections of those moments, carrying both nostalgia and pride. The emotions I hope to convey are warmth, connection, and a reminder of the beauty in where we come from.
Your work Often Touches on Culture, Lifestyle, and Customs, why are these Themes Important to You?
These themes are important to me because they’re at the core of who we are. Culture, lifestyle, and customs carry the stories of our past while shaping how we live today. Studying Tourism in university also opened my eyes to just how diverse and beautiful culture can be, and it deepened my love for it. Through my art, I want to honor that richness while keeping it simple and relatable. I think when we see our culture clearly, we not only feel connected to it, but we also create space for others to see the value in theirs too.
How has Your Environment or Upbringing Influenced the Way You See and Create Art?
Growing up, the first thing people often noticed about me was my complexion. Many assumed I belonged to a certain tribe simply because of my light skin. I understood it, but I never liked being reduced to appearances instead of who I truly am. That pushed me to become intentional with my art. If my looks don’t tell my story, then my work will. Through my pieces, I make my identity and heritage clear, while also exploring and celebrating the diverse cultures that shape people’s lives. My art has become my voice, a way to be seen beyond the surface.
What Role Do Simplicity and Minimalism Play in Your Creative Process?
Simplicity and minimalism are really at the heart of how I create. For me, it’s not about stripping things away just to make them bare it’s about clarity. I like to focus on the essence of a story, a culture, or an emotion, and present it in a way that feels clean, calm, and intentional.
Who or what Inspires You the Most, both Within and Outside the Art World?
I’d say my biggest inspiration comes from culture itself the way people live, the customs we keep, and the emotions tied to everyday moments. I find beauty in small, ordinary things that carry big meaning, like how people gather, dress, or celebrate. Those little details inspire me to create.
Can you Walk us Through your Process , from Idea to Finished Piece?
My process usually starts with observation and reflection. I pay close attention to, lifestyle, culture and the little everyday details around me things like gestures, fabrics, or moments of gathering. Sometimes it’s sparked by memory, sometimes by something I see in my environment that feels worth holding onto.
From there, I begin sketching or noting down ideas, always thinking about how to keep it simple and clear. I don’t like to overcrowd my work, so I focus on the elements that truly carry the story. Then I start layering colors, textures, and forms in a way that feels soft but intentional, letting the emotion guide me more than anything else.
As a Nigerian Artist, how do You see the Creative Space Evolving, Especially for Women Artists?
As a Nigerian artist, I’ve really seen the creative space open up especially for women. There’s definitely more visibility now. women are being recognized in galleries, exhibitions, and even taking on leadership roles like curating or running spaces. It feels like our art are being seen more, and not just as ‘female artists,’ but simply as artists who have something powerful to say or show.
What Challenges have You Faced in Pursuing your Art, and how have they Shaped Your Journey?
On challenge that I face is; Balancing life, work, and creating which hasn’t always been easy. There are moments when I feel like I don’t have enough time to pour into my art the way I want to. But in a strange way, that challenge has taught me patience and discipline. It makes the time I do spend creating even more meaningful.
Collaboration is Big in today’s Art Scene. Are there Creatives or Communities You Dream of Working with?
For me, I’d love to work with museums and art galleries that create space for cultural storytelling, as well as collaborate with other artists who bring different creative styles to the table. It could be painters, photographers, fashion designers, or even musicians; anyone who uses their craft to explore identity and tradition in their own way.
Community-wise, I’d love to connect with projects that highlight African culture in modern contexts, where different tribes, lifestyles, and perspectives can sit side by side. Since my work is about clarity and culture, collaborating with others who approach it from different angles would create something layered and meaningful.
What do You Hope Viewers Take away when they Encounter Your Work?
I hope viewers walk away from my work with a sense of clarity and connection. Culture, lifestyle, and customs are at the heart of what I create, and I want people to see the beauty in them not just as tradition, but as something living and personal.
Looking Ahead, what’s Your Vision for Your Art and the Stories You Want to Continue Telling?
Looking ahead, my vision is to keep telling stories that honor culture and identity with clarity. I want my art to grow as a space where traditions, customs, and everyday life are preserved but also reimagined in new ways. For me, it’s about creating pieces that not only reflect where I come from but also shine light on other tribes and communities whose stories deserve to be seen.
I see my work evolving beyond just the canvas into collaborations with galleries, museums, and other artists with different creative styles. I’d love my art to travel, to connect with people globally, while still staying rooted in the essence of who we are.