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ARTIST STATEMENT ♡

I am a nurturing storyteller who enjoys hands-on crafts and experimenting with my materials. My first form of creativity was with culinary arts, measuring and stirring ingredients together to produce warm, soulfull meals that filled many stomachs with love. I eventually branched off to create large, visual artwork that communicates loss and grief, hope, identity, resilience, and expression. I am aware that my craft and vision are bigger than me, my creations and I serve a higher purpose of inspiring others with hope and evoking a sense of emotional relatability and feeling. Taking time to understand myself and my mental health, I advocate for the healing of people like me, especially for people of color where in our communities, mental health concerns are a prevalent injustice that is often overlooked.

The deconstructing and reconstructing aspect of collage is what I resonate with most, granting the ability to blend together emotions of trauma and visual stimulants to construct an evocative graphic representation. My artwork embodies a view that can not only be seen but felt and empathized with as well. My mediums give me the space to investigate the process of layering and intimacy. One of my primary mediums is acrylic painting; underpaintings, mixing paints to match colors, layering, and blending are all interesting to experience as its necessary steps for me to take before revealing the final image. Clay is also significant, and therapeutic, for me; pinching and pressing, adding textures, and building something so imaginative from the material is what I appreciate the greatest. My whole life mission is represented in my work: creating something from nothing, engaging with expression that is communicated through imagery and power, channeled through my hands. In my continuing transformation as an individual and artist, I am progressively acknowledging the existence of the world beyond what is initially seen, looking closer into the metaphysical, spiritual, mental, and emotional.

HOPE ♡

HOPE (Tonisha Hope McCorkle) is an interdisciplinary artist and performer whose canvas is not just a surface but a portal for healing. She creates transformative and emotionally resonant works of art through painting, collage, movement, and sculpture. Weaving together the threads of memories, color, and symbolism, HOPE constructs evocative representations that go beyond visual perception. Her creations provide a space for introspection, inviting viewers to explore the profound processes of transformation, intimacy, and self-discovery. Through her unique blend of storytelling and visual expression, HOPE's art not only invites observation but encourages a deep, empathetic connection that transcends the canvas.

Through education and soul food, HOPE nurtures spirit and community by teaching healing through art to the youth and sharing her passion for cooking through immersive experiences. HOPE makes up half of the artist collective Hope and Faith ♡, an interdisciplinary art collaborative formed with twin sister, FAITH (Eleisha Faith McCorkle). Their work serves as testaments to healing by example, honoring the Black mother, spirit, food, and childlike wonder in the stories told through their scrolls, films, installations, and other creations. 

HOPE's vision extends beyond herself, embracing a higher purpose that dives deep into the soul, inviting others to join her on a journey of hope, healing, and exploration.