Based in the United States, 18-year-old illustrator Maya Ajani creates art so that she can see herself. Frustrated with the lack of representation of black and biracial people in mass media, Ajani took it upon herself to create art that speaks to the hidden identities.
Speaking to AfroPunk, Ajani said her inspiration comes from her friends. “My illustrations incorporate spiritual/fantasy elements into it that represents many of my spiritual beliefs,” Ajani was quoted as saying. “Growing up as a black/biracial girl it was rare to find characters in tv shows and other forms of media that resembled me.”
