Photo by LaNia the Artist
LaNia the Artist is a Louisville-based contemporary artist whose work delves into personal and collective memory, beginning with a series of paintings set in her late Great Grandmother’s kitchen. In pieces like Living Water and Maxine’s Recipe, she explores deep connections to food and tradition, transforming everyday experiences into spiritual reflections and honoring cultural heirlooms. Her vibrant, complex compositions use Cubist ideas and the liberation of color to examine the multifaceted nature of identity, creating powerful visual narratives that challenge how we see ourselves and others.
At just 28, LaNia the Artist embodies her artwork on and off the canvas, constantly shifting within multiple artistic languages—including fine art, the recent release of her first album, writing, and impacting pop culture within the realm of social media. She has amassed nearly half a million followers, gone viral teaching art and sharing wisdom while painting, and is a rising star in the global fine art scene. With a BFA in painting from Syracuse University, her work has been exhibited internationally, collected by prestigious institutions like 21c Museum Hotels, and recognized with grants like the Bill Fischer Award. Not only does she command serious respect in the art world, but she balances it all with the joy of rest-filled productivity, often creating with her two Goldendoodle puppies lounging at her feet. LaNia the Artist is boldly taking her time—passionate about changing lives through art, she continues to break boundaries and expectations, one creation at a time.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”