Check out Xierra Itayem’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Xierra Itayem.

Xierra, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I began painting when I was about twelve. My father owned a restaurant where I would spend my summers. Most days I was very bored, so one day the cook, who painted in his spare time, brought in his paints and a canvas, and set me up to paint. The rest is history. I graduate with a bachelors in arts and a minor in art history in 2014 from Florida International University. Since then I’ve been working on creating my body of work called Breaking Mythos, along with developing an emerging arts program at a charter school in Miami.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Breaking Mythos began as an experiment on how I could blend my love for the theater arts with my passion for fine art. I began with a very rudimentary concept of a character, a body painting kit, and a few women who were willing to get vulnerable with me. However, as the ideas and photo shoots progressed, I realized that the need to create these character productions stemmed much deeper than just a desire to experiment.

I grew up in a strict household. My mother was raped when she was young, which of course influenced how she raised me. In her mind, the only way to protect me was to cover me. Dating, boys, and sex were taboo and never spoken about. As I grew older, I became intensely aware and uncomfortable of male attention. I also became afraid of what male attention led to. I became uncomfortable with my body, as I felt it was the culprit for all unwanted attention. I was never really ashamed of my body; I was ashamed of HAVING a body. Having a body meant I was entitled to catcalls and butt grabs without my solicitation. In turn, nakedness in general made me uncomfortable. I eventually grew older, had my life experiences, and had grown slightly wiser for it.

I started creating this work unintentionally as a way for me to deal with my fear and to have a way of connecting with other women who have been through similar experiences.

And so, comes in the glorious women who have given their bodies and stories over to my art. After spending hours painting these women, I realized that this project is about transformation and ownership. About my transformation into a woman who is owning just how beautiful having this body is; and the transformation that these women go through during the process of the body paintings. They speak their truth in letting themselves be these characters, and so boldly and beautifully own their bodies.

Breaking Mythos is women taking the power of their bodies back. It’s about honoring the stories that these women’s bodies tell. Breaking Mythos is for the women who don’t feel beautiful in their own skin, for the women that have been hurt and ridiculed, catcalled and harassed. For women that have let men define them.

Breaking Mythos is for my amazing, strong, resilient mother. For women like me.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I definitely think that living in an artistic hub like Miami has helped me get to where I am now. However, it can still be a “it’s who you know” environment. In recent years people are much more open to hearing new stories and seeing more diverse artworks but curating an environment that is conducive to local artists is imperative. There is so much amazing talent in our city and it is imperative that we cultivate it.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
People can see my work on my website http://xierrai.com. They can also follow along and get updates on my Instagram @x_bodyart. I periodically exhibit at local art shows around Miami, which I advertise on my Instagram. Following my Instagram and spreading the word about the message of the project is the best way to support!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://xierrai.com
• Email: xierrai@gmail.com
• Instagram: @x_bodyart

Image Credit:
Breaking Mythos, Xierra Itayem

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