Meet Kiarra Williams | Artist & Art Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kiarra Williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kiarra, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have always been very passionate about art and expressing myself creatively. When I started to grow my skills within ceramics and drawing, I knew that I could take it to the next level and share my art with the world. During college, I would participate in winter and spring sales, selling functional work such as mugs, plates, and vases. I found that I did really well each year and decided to continue. My main goal is to create work that can be sold in chain stores and used in restaurants, while working towards opening my own studio for others to learn the craft and express themselves creatively.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an artist who works with clay and specializes in drawing realism portraiture. I started at a young age, drawing cartoons from my favorite VCR movie covers, and continued drawing from there. It wasn’t until later in high school that I discovered clay, and pursued my degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in ceramics at Hofstra University. Most of my skills were developed during my college career. After graduating, I continued to practice, teach, and create work, which has brought me to where I am in my career today.

The biggest challenge I face is balancing my creativity for personal art with my work. I am a full-time art therapist, and much of my creative energy is channeled into creating art directives for my clients. Sometimes, I become creatively blocked when it’s time to focus on my own work. As I continue to grow as an artist and art therapist, I’ve learned the importance of balance and setting boundaries to ensure I make time for myself because self-care is crucial. I’ve also learned that consistency is key when promoting your art, and comparison can hinder the creative process.

I’m most excited to share my art with others through art installations and exhibitions. My main goal is to bring people together in one space to experience art as I tell my story through the pieces I create. One thing I want the world to know is that black women can be more than what the world wants to portray us as; we are artists, leaders, businesswomen, and so much more.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Most of my friends are from New York, and I am Philly-based, so I always try to give them the best Philly experience. I start off with South Street and take them to grab a cheesesteak from Ishkabibble’s. Then, depending on the weather, I’ll take them down to Spruce Street Harbor Park for a nice walk by the water and a beautiful view of the Ben Franklin Bridge. For the best restaurants, I love going to South Philly! One of my favorite Italian spots is La Buca; the gnocchi dish accompanied by a glass of wine is the best. At night, I love taking a trip down to the Art Museum to climb the infamous steps where Rocky ran to sit and look at the skyline.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a special shoutout to Kenné Poles, owner and CEO of Kids Kreate Art Program LLC. Watching her build a business from the ground up has been very inspiring. On days when I felt like giving up, or not enough, I would always reflect back on her process and her eagerness to persevere through any challenge, which pushed me to keep going. She is a boss lady who is unafraid to keep it real with you and push you to be the best you can be. Thank you for always showing up for me, and believing in my vision.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mudnmixtures_?igsh=cXA4bnAzb3ZwbnRj

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiarra-williams-42b9951b2/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mudnmixtures/