Today we’d like to introduce you to Aris Taniyah.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve experienced a very unfiltered way of life due to having a single mother. However, she had the help from my grandmother, who I call my “NaNa” and aunt, in molding my world and making me more than what’s determined for me by our situations. I’ve experienced struggle as much as I experienced gain. Yet, I transform my experiences and let them be the reasons why I’m liberated through the use of my hands on a paintbrush or a camera.
Since I was exposed to the uninhibited way of being authentically me at a young age, art pushes me to communicate that authenticity and to inspire others to do the same. Being able to say I give people the courage to make or do what’s “inevitable” to them is the selfless act I want to indulge in as an artist. I am a black, Haitian-Jamaican-American Woman who’s roots are in South Florida but heart is in New York. I exercise my residency and art practices in both states. I’ve always been a creative being, but being a visual artist clicked for me at an early age. At 14, I started taking visual practices seriously and never looked back since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s never a smooth road for an artist, I think that’s where I find the beauty of trial and error. Knowing one day this is all going to be worth it. Resilience is key, because authenticity doesn’t appear from thin air. I’ve had negative experiences in regards to rejections and discriminatory practices. These experiences, good and bad, become visual stories to tell. Which is the beauty in it all – the silver lining.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is mixed-media based and dabbling in installation and video work. I’m known for my large Tiktok following where I touch base with my followers and viewers about my lifestyle and how that connects to my artistic experiences. Currently I’m at 2.5 million likes across all platforms. I’m also known for exhibitions I have participated in – in the South Florida and NYC area. My work has been exhibited in several esteemed spaces, including the Norton Museum of Art, Hearst Tower in New York City and at BOCCARA Fine Art Gallery as part of the gallery’s Viewpoints collection.
I love being able to connect with people beyond the screen as well. I create artistic experiences across South Florida in the art pop-up form and collaboration with other businesses such as Rohi’s Readery, FLAVAR, Soul Movement, and more. Above all this, I’m most proud and passionate about my intimate pieces where I tap into narratives and slowly bring them to life by connecting to culture, history, and intersectional experiences in order to share with audiences everywhere.
Creating visual stories through art pieces is a process – depending on the context, I’ll approach making pieces through either making them photomontages or oil/acrylic paintings. Often, a piece is not left alone. After making a piece, I incorporate a short music film to go along with the context and piece as well.
What sets me apart is my ability to reinvent what I consider classic, creating new classics that I offer back to the world.
Through storytelling, we create breakthroughs and become visual conquerors.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me through exhibiting opportunities, creative partnerships, and community-based collaborations. I am always open to collaborating with artists, organizations, educators, and brands that value intentional storytelling and meaningful cultural exchange.
I am the founder of an art initiative titled Studio ARIS. While it is not a traditional gallery, Studio ARIS functions as a dynamic platform for exhibitions, public programming, and creative gatherings rooted in movement, connection, and lived experience. The initiative centers art as something to be shared and experienced collectively, creating spaces where creativity becomes a tool for dialogue, reflection, and community building. Studio ARIS places art into unconventional spaces, bringing creative expression directly into everyday environments where it can be encountered organically and without barriers.
A core focus of my work is supporting young creatives through educational programming and mentorship. By working with youth, I aim to help lay the foundation for young minds to imagine new possibilities, develop confidence in their voices, and pursue their ambitions—whether artistic, academic, or personal.
Pricing:
- If Inquiring about my pieces I have for sale, please reach out! Prices Vary.
Contact Info:
- Website: imsooaris.com & studioaris.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arisrulz
Image Credits
Eszter Veres
Nicole Forestieri
Aris Taniyah
FramedbyRomario
