Womanly Interview: Sasha-Loriene of Black Girls Who Paint, by Amy T. Woehling

We caught up with Sasha-Loriene, founder and CEO of BLACK GIRLS WHO PAINT, a safe space created to support & empower Black women and girls as they share their art and story.

Amy Woehling: Where does your journey start?

Sasha-Loriene: I'm located in Maryland/Washington D.C. Oddly enough, my background is in economics and public administration. I’m a first-generation American, and my family is from Liberia. I was always an artsy person growing up, but I was raised with the idea that I had to get a “safe” job. So, I was set on getting a nice, comfy nine-to-five and just painting on the side;I never saw myself pursuing it full-time. I finished grad school in 2015, and by 2017 I realized that I was living my parent’s dream and wasn't actually happy.

AW: How did Black Girls Who Paint get started, and what does it look like now?

Sasha-Loriene: I started Black Girls Who Paint in 2017 as a response to not seeing myself in the places that I wanted to go. None of my jobs were actually true to my passions. I had a little mental breakdown where I was like, “Okay, I have to leave”. So, I randomly put in my two weeks’ notice without a plan; I just had my savings and had to figure it out as I went. I decided to pursue art as something more than just a hobby. I kept getting denied by local exhibitions and artists calls. I would see the artists who were chosen and 90 percent of them were not women of color. So, I decided I was tired of seeing rejection emails and decided to create my own table, an ecosystem of Black women artists, and bring them in as opposed to always knocking on someone else’s door waiting for a pass. Now, BGWP is made up of a membership directory where artists can add their events and showcase their art; almost like an online gallery where patrons can contact the artist directly. The second component is financial support through our awards fund initiative. We give away two e-gift cards per month to assist girls 6-18 with art supplies every month. We also award two scholarships and paint material to visual art students every fall and spring semester. This fund is made possible by a portion of every membership fee and 100 percent of our donations.

AW: Do you have any projects down the road?

Sasha-Loriene: This September was our third anniversary celebrating the third issue of Mahyue Magazine. “Mahyue” in Bassa dialect (Liberia) is the word for “girl”. This magazine is inspired by the inner child that lives within every Black woman artist and sheds light on our stories and artwork. I am also launching Mahyue Studioswhich is a safe space that encourages artists to reacquaint themselves with their inner child -the child who was created independent of status quo. It’s going to focus more on artist development, sustainability in terms of our studio practices, and entrepreneurship. It’s essentially the rebrand of BGWP’s parent company, Sasha-Loriene LLC.

AW: Have any silver linings emerged from COVID?

Sasha-Loriene: This year has been extremely hard, with blow after blow. I was trying to find myself as an artist, as a woman, as a Black woman, and as a business owner. But because of COVID, I had time to reflect and grow internally; I found more purpose in art, my own personal art, and also with BGWP that I would not have. I don't think I would have created the awards initiative when I did without this time to reflect.

AW: What are the ways you keep yourself physically, emotionally, spiritually, or mentally charged?

Sasha-Loriene: I'm constantly trying to find balance by setting boundaries with work, people, and just how I spend my time. When you do any kind of entrepreneurship, your time is a method of energy and payment. So, definitely guard your time and your peace. I think treating yourself should be a part of your day even if it's small. Like sometimes, I look forward to having some tea and just sitting while looking out the window. Just do something to take yourself out of your work.

AW: Who has taught you the most in life?

Sasha-Loriene: Ah, that is hard. I would say probably my mom. My mom and I are very similar in terms of our eccentricity, but we’re on different sides of the spectrum. She did more interior design and I am more of a visual artist. Her acceptance of me is what is inspiring. She is one of the people who never judges me harshly and always supports me. She motivates me to keep going because she knows where I started from, and she knows my heart as well.