Believing In Black Girl Magic
Kadiatou Coulibay (@lanerdybae)
As a child, when I looked around me, I did not see many Black or African women visual artists who were professionally successful. Painting could not be more than a hobby, especially growing up in Gabon. Visual art as a profession seemed to be reserved for people who were extremely gifted, lucky, male and white. This lack of representation led to me treating painting, or any kind of artmaking, as a hobby for many years until I started my healing journey. During that time, I used painting and reading to heal my inner child and manage my anxiety. While on that journey, I decided to share my story and deconstruct misconceptions on healing and show the importance of art in the healing process. That process led to my first collaborative exhibition in February 2020 while I was visiting more museums, exhibitions, and art events. I started to see more representation of Black women artists too. My entire perspective began to shift and I finally considered making art professionally. I decided to create my own business and tell my story as a Black woman nerd who grew up in Africa.
'Sabali' 18"x24” Acrylic and Bogolan Collage on Canvas, 2021. 'Nous' 8"x8” Acrylic on Canvas, 2019.
CONTROLLING MY OWN NARRATIVE
I decided to create my own business and tell my story as a Black woman nerd who grew up in Africa. Having affirmations has changed how I approach obstacles, self-actualization, and moments of self-doubt. I have many that I repeat on a regular basis because speaking actively and positively helps me to visualize my story. I am liberated and empowered. I am comforted in knowing that there are many ways that I can tell my story without being limited to by materials, space, or subject matter. I continue to find communities that support my growth as a multidisciplinary artist too. This helps strengthen my confidence and encourages me to consistently invest in my art practice.
“I am in control of my story! I am an artist, a cosplayer, a founder, a CEO, and more, lavishing in Black girl magic.”
– Kadiatou Coulibaly
About The Artist
Kadiatou Coulibaly is a cosplayer and contemporary artist born in Mali and raised in Gabon. Her mother taught her how to paint when she was 8 yrs old, living in Gabon. Coulibaly is currently based in Brooklyn where she founded Nerdy Bae LLC, an African nerd lifestyle brand. For Coulibaly, cosplaying and painting are both art forms activating her creativity. While cosplaying helps her celebrate powerful characters that animate her imagination, her paintings reflect her Bambara background, upbringing in Gabon, and experience as an African immigrant living in the U.S.
Coulibaly’s art practice is centered around a concept she calls Denbaw Gaari meaning “mothers thread” in Bambara, her native language. Denbaw Gaari is a process that explores maternal relationships. She uses acrylic paint as her primary medium along with bogolan (mudcloth) fabric collage. Coulibaly’s love for bogolan comes from the genetic memory of her late paternal grandmother who made bogolan when she was young. Coulibaly presented her first bogolan-inspired paintings in an exhibition titled TRAJET in February 2020 at the Black Gotham Experience in New York City’s Seaport District.