Welcome to The Renaissance of Young Black Art. We seek to create a collaborative body of work involving the art of young black people that speaks through different mediums of poetry. Put simply, The Knead is an art incubator and collective for and of young black artists.
"Art would not exist without Black people and Black people would not exist if not for Art. Niggas need us. Niggas need Niggas. Niggas need art."
WHO WE ARE
We must knead our art as we do bread, or else it will not rise. As we knead our art, we knead the world and each other along with it. This is a telling of how all the little things about us lead to something bigger. All the rivers lead to the same home. For as long as we are on Earth, we have each other. We knead each other :)
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Nena Hayes, founder of The Knead, is a Midwest raised artist whose creative output includes mediums like songwriting, instrumentalism, singing, poetry, filmmaking, novel writing, and so much more to come. Creating vulnerable and safe ecosystems for people to confide in through art is imperative, and that's one of the many layers that they have to offer. Nena finds joy in creating space for the swell and shrink of all emotions and branches of The Human Experience, allowing for the expansion of being in all aspects, room for growth, acknowledgment of mistakes, and everything else in between. Through their art, she likes to invite people to see the poetry in life that lives all around us. There is nothing they enjoy more than to create and spread the love!
OUR DIRECTORS
Aiyana Thompson is an aspiring visionary in the realm of contemporary art, currently pursuing her Master's degree at Sotheby's Institute of Art. Holding a distinguished undergraduate degree in Art History from Spelman College, she brings a rich academic foundation to her creative endeavors. Hailing from the suburbs of Chicago, IL, Aiyana is not only a dedicated artist but also a self-published author. She is also the CEO and Founder of The Concrete Rose Society, a mentorship training organization for young Black girls. In her role as the Co-Director of The Knead, an art collective tailored for young black creatives, Aiyana actively contributes to fostering an inclusive and empowering space for artistic expression. Now calling New York home, she is on a relentless pursuit of turning her dreams into reality, carving her path as a creator and leaving an indelible mark on the world of contemporary art.