Meet Niyasia Owens-Watts: showcasing the beauty and normality of everyday life

As part of Black History Month this year, we selected 4 of our talented graduates to feature their work as part of the UAL campaign.

Niyasia Owens-Watts is a London College of Fashion graduate, whose project 'BELONGING' is a ‘love letter’ to her support system, Barbados and South East London - 'the three things that bring a sense of wholeness to my life.' We chatted to Niyasia about her inspirations, her artistic journey and the importance of celebrating Black history.

Hi Niyasia! Please can you introduce yourself in your own words?

Hello! I'm Niyasia Owens-Watts, and I recently graduated from the London College of Fashion with a BA Hons in Fashion Styling and Production. I'm a multidisciplinary visual artist and stylist, I love to explore different mediums and styles to bring my creative ideas to life.

Why do you make art? 

To me, art is a way of visually telling stories and expressing my personal experiences and thoughts to a wider audience. I've loved drawing and painting since I was a child, and my mother encouraged my artistic freedom by allowing me to draw on walls and furniture at home. As I got older, my passion for art grew, and I pursued it academically by studying Fine Art and Photography in secondary school, sixth form, and eventually at university. Through my art, I hope to inspire, challenge, and connect with people, and it brings me joy to share my unique perspective with the world.

What is your work about, and what messages do you convey through it?

As a creative, I am driven by my passion for capturing unique moments that cannot be replicated. My work is focused on exploring the subject of identity and culture, which is informed by my Barbadian and Jamaican background, as well as my upbringing in London. My mission is to showcase the beauty and normality of everyday life within the communities to which I belong. I am dedicated to highlighting the uniqueness of under-represented faces and cultures through my work.

What are your primary inspirations? 

The sources of my creative inspiration are diverse and varied, often stemming from a combination of different elements that I integrate into my artwork. I draw from a wide range of personal experiences, including my upbringing in both South East London and Barbados, as well as from my relationships with family and friends. Additionally, I find inspiration in sources such as old photo albums and even occasional quotes from essays that capture my attention. All of these influences come together to shape my unique perspective and creative output.

What piece of yours stands out the most to you? Why?

One of my most cherished works is a collection of photograms that I produced for my 'belonging/belongings' project. This project was birthed from a difficult situation: my grandparents' home in Barbados suffered from flooding during my visit, inspiring me to explore how water damage can be transformed into something creative. By incorporating images from my travels, I was able to experiment with chemical use, light exposure, and even my grandparent's salvaged jewellery to create unique compositions.

Upon completion of the photograms, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia due to my background in fine art and my longing for crafting with my hands and diverse materials. The addition of handwritten quotes from a survey I conducted with loved ones on the subject of belonging and 'home' added an intimate touch to each print, aligning perfectly with the project's objective. This project is a testament to the power of creativity and the ability to transform adversity into something beautiful.

After graduating this year (congratulations!), what are you planning to do next?

Since graduating just two months ago, I've realised the importance of taking a break and spending time with loved ones whom I haven't had a chance to catch up with amidst my studies. As we approach 2024, (which starts on a Monday!), the beginning of the week seems like the ideal time to return to my creative pursuits, feeling refreshed and ready to collaborate with other creatives, and share my work with the world.

You’ve been selected as part of the Black History Month campaign for UAL - what does the month mean to you? 

Black History Month holds a special place in my heart because it is a time where we can celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black individuals throughout history. Although, I do believe that Black history should be celebrated and recognised all year round and not just during a designated month to ensure that the stories and experiences of Black people are consistently heard and valued. As part of the campaign, I hope to help educate and inspire others to learn more about Black history and culture which is engrained into every fibre of my being, and to promote inclusivity and equality for all.

More

See more of Niyasia's work on UAL Showcase

Find out more about Black History Month 2023 at UAL