Tschabalala Self, wearing white, leaning on a table in her New Haven studio

Tschabalala Self

3 collaborations

Tschabalala Self moving a large red painting in her studio
Tschabalala Self, wearing white, leaning on a table in her New Haven studio

Tschabalala Self

“You don’t have to use paint to make a painting.”

Reassembling everyday life.

Tschabalala Self makes portraits with impact – bold, bright and tactile. The works cherish Black social life. Women sit, chill and chat. Sometimes they hang out in groups, and sometimes they enjoy a moment of solitude. While she calls herself a painter, Self mainly works with fabric. Her process is intuitive and hands-on. First, she draws on her studio floor. Then she cuts up patterned fabric and old, unfinished works. Scraps of silk, fur and hand-painted textiles are also added into the mix. Next, these shapes are arranged into curvaceous human forms and sewn onto canvas. Self uses her sewing...

Bio

Tschabalala Self (she/her) was born in 1990 and raised in Harlem, New York. She now lives and works in New Haven, Connecticut.

Harlem

The energetic beauty of everyday Black life is central to Self’s work. Her practice is firmly rooted in Harlem, New York, where she grew up. The ‘composite characters’ in her portraits are inspired by the people she encounters in the neighbourhood.

Career

Self is hugely popular both inside and outside the art world. She’s had shows at major museums and has artworks in public collections across the world. In recent years she’s explored theatre, performance and fashion – including collaborations with UGG and Louis Vuitton.


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