Meet Malaya Wright!
Malaya Wright, 20, of Berea was nominated for her painting and mixed visual media artwork that unabashedly showcases feminine sexuality. Her art explores topics such as questioning and unpacking of beauty standards, rape culture, radical Blackness, cultural and social homogeneity, controlling images of Black women, the importance of intersectionality, colorism, normalization of plastic, or beauty ‘enhancements’.
Malaya’s work is focused on social justice and creating meaningful social change by questioning societal norms and centering womens’ strength and power. As her nominator describes, “her pieces ‘Within the Woman Sky’ and ‘Sexual Vibes’ directly control the viewer to observe the parts that we keep hidden – our sexual selves.
These pieces are not coy, and they boldly ask you: ‘Why are you uncomfortable? Should we feel uncomfortable about the naked female body?’.”
“Her creations, nudity and all, exhibit confidence and instantly enacts body and sex-positivity. She believes, and this carries through her work, that the body should not be demonized or shamed. Her pieces demonstrate that acceptance of one’s body can be the start to self-acceptable and love.”
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