Sunaé Armanye

  I am an African-American multidisciplinary expressionist artist who engages in various forms of artistic expression, including canvas painting, digital illustration, murals, and clothing design. My creative process is deeply rooted in the liberation and healing that comes from translating life experiences, emotions, studies, and philosophies into art.

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  My creativity began with the influence of my great-grandmother’s teachings. She showed me how arts and crafts could be inspired by everyday objects found around the house. I never feared experimenting with art because it started as an open and welcoming activity in my childhood homes—grounded in the wisdom and guidance of three generations of women in my family, whom I call my “Big 3.”

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  I was raised by a single Black woman and a village of Black women, so I often paint women of color—but in blue. The blue is symbolic: a literal take on the phrase “people of color.” In high school, my art teacher once asked me to raise my arm to the sunlight shining through the window and said, “You’re not just one color. You’re not just brown—you’re all the colors of the rainbow that make up brown.” From that day on, I embraced using a colorful palette. I realized my art could relate to reality without having to replicate it exactly. That lesson gave me the confidence to explore color freely.

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  In my senior year of college, I took a class that pushed me to reflect deeply on my connection to my work and life experiences. It challenged me to use mixed media, new materials, and fresh perspectives—reconnecting me with the same fearless creativity I had as a child at my great-grandmother’s craft parties.​ I paint blue people because blue is my safe color. It calms me and transports me to a blissful state. Through my art, I reclaim my power and transform my lived experiences into creative expression. It’s my personal form of storytelling—as a person of color.

 

My work has been showcased in several notable spaces, including Newark Public Library's Special Collections, the Newark Arts Gateway Exhibition, Yendor’s Price’Ah: Freedom Ain’t Cheap at Launchpad Newark, and AM:PM Gallery’s Echoes of Liberation in New York and a private group showcase with Chanel Headquarters.​ My mission as an artist is to express myself in healthy and meaningful ways, while sharing my journey and perspectives with others. Through my art, I aim to connect with people on a deeper level—so they, too, can feel seen, heard, and understood.