Marryam Moma

BIO

Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist Marryam Moma intricately reconstructs repurposed archival paper and mixed media, to create vibrant narratives, delving into the complexities of the Black experience. She highlights Black bodies, their strength and joy, while challenging societal perceptions. Moma's work is a masterful tapestry of multidimensional stories. Her analog collages grace international corporate collections like Microsoft, Google, and Starbucks. 

Moma's influence spans TV shows like Blackish, Bel Air, and Cherish the Day, along with features in renowned publications such as Popular Science, MODE MEN Magazine, and XXL Magazine. Notably, Moma's analog collages are showcased in The New Brownies Book, recipient of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction.

Departing from a Bachelor of Architecture, Moma draws inspiration from both the ordinary and the exceptional to reconstruct intricate analog collages from apparently disparate elements that uplift and empower. Moma's exhibitions in the US and internationally aim to promote understanding and inclusivity through art.

STATEMENT

As a Tanzanian-Nigerian collage artist who has now made a home and built an art practice in Atlanta GA, I chose to escape the rigidity of my formal architecture background in favor of building a creative practice that highlights the experiences of people like me. 

I depict Black joy through a multidimensional use of cutouts, layered paper, acrylic paints, gold leaf, and shiny mixed media. Contrasting textures, luxurious materials, rich colors, and a careful selection of apparently disparate elements come together in my art to spark conversations about the multilayered experiences of Black bodies – including my own – amid a society that is divisive versus inclusive.