Meet Sariyah Benoit | painter, muralist, film photographer, visual art enthusiast

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

Hi Sariyah, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
“Life is a vacation, during which I take the occasional time out to make a living.” My grandfather says this often and it encourages me to maintain a mindset focused on pleasure #UsesOfTheErotic #AudreLorde. Gpa always reminds me that I am entitled to a life filled with peace, joy, and luxury–and not the capitalistic kind. There is an abundance of luxuries to claim that are non-extractive and engage your loved ones…which leads to a second favorite quote of mine. There is a popular saying that my mom, grandmother, and family used to tell me whenever conflict or obstacles arose in my relationships, “Dime con quien andas y te diré quien eres,” this translates to “tell me with whom you walk and I will tell you who you are.” I share both quotes because they remind me, an optimistic capricorn, that it is important to nurture my immediate community and set boundaries that reinforce a joy-centered life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My mother went to an arts high school and saved most of her supplies: old film cameras, oil paints, brushes, sketching and drafting tools, inks, pens, pencils, rulers of all kinds, etc. We would get into messy art experiments frequently; every school project was a time to test new techniques with recycled materials. I rediscovered these supplies after graduating from Emory (2018 BA in African American Studies) and was surprised to see her oil paints lasted almost 20 years. It was a nostalgic rediscovery that prompted me out of post-grad unemployment blues towards a self-determined north star.

In 2018, painting was therapeutic and mentally stimulating. Once folks started asking for commissions in 2019…that’s when things got difficult. Most of the work I did in 2018-2019 was completely free: free murals, free portraits, free logos/flyers, free prints, free free free everything. A terribly unsustainable business plan. I am still learning how to assert myself as a professional artist when folks want to negotiate or undermine my work and abilities.

Since I have been practicing and working full-time since 2019 (sometimes with an extra part-time side-job), the greatest lesson I have learned is to create not for money but for my own satisfaction. In addition to painting, I enjoy gardening and plant identification hikes. I paint when I want and what I want so that my work can be its best at all times. When I have the capacity to, it’s pleasurable to find extra time and commit hours to my practice. This is my greatest lesson because unconditionally supportive collectors exist for all kinds of art styles and will say “just do whatever you want, I’ll pay for it.”

My story champions rest, land stewardship, and honoring my foremother’s practice of creating to digest immigration, resist oppression, and celebrate pleasure-centered work.

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?
If my best friend came to Atlanta for a week, the first place we are stopping to get food is Tassilli’s Raw Reality on Ralph David Abernathy, Blvd. With our bellies full of Kale and seaweed wraps, I’ll take her on a short hike through Cascade Nature preserve to sit at the waterfall and talk about our dreams for the future. Tuesday night, we would have to stop by an open mic session at the Laughing Skull. If we get tipsy, we’ll have dinner at The Vortex, if we get drunk, we’re driving all the way to Mama’s on Piedmont rd for late night breakfast tacos. On Wednesday night, we would go to the hidden gallery at Peters Street Station, 333 Peters Street, for some drinks, an incredible jam session, and to watch talented folks paint throughout the venue. We’ll visit other nature preserves such as Morningside Park and Sweetwater Creek and write down all of the new plants we can identify. I’ll take her to gardens and farms throughout the city to get our hands dirty and meet brilliant folks who transform Georgia Clay into the most nutritious soil to grow food. Thursday, we’ll rent some scooters and ride around to the City’s landmarks and get Mukja Korean Fried Chicken. We’ll wrap the trip up on Friday with brunch at Nine Mile Station and dinner at the Parlor.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout out to Greene Clothe Collective and the lovely agroecologists that are stewarding land throughout Atlanta and South Georgia in the name of freedom, love, and luxury. IG is @greene.clothe.collective

I am also eternally grateful for the Laundromat Project for inviting me into their artists community in New York and teaching me community asset mapping strategies for engaging folks in art projects.

Website: www.riyahniko.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riyahniko/

Image Credits
Riyah Niko, Elise Ryan