Aliyah Salmon’s artistic focus investigates the intricate crossroads of black femininity and the Afro-Caribbean diaspora in contemporary America. Through textiles and collage, her work challenges and reframes simplistic narratives surrounding Black identity, while delving into themes like isolation, childhood, and the subconscious.

Utilizing traditional textile methods like hand tufting with an Oxford punch needle and bead embroidery alongside modern materials and collage techniques, Salmon embraces “slow craft” to construct dream-like compositions. These compositions feature tufted depictions of symbols, products, and culturally significant items from the Black/Caribbean community, serving as shorthand for broader discussions on black femininity, hair politics, and diasporic experiences.

Her work fosters a dialogue between these intersecting identities, dismantling the notion of a monolithic Black female experience to explore the nuanced layers within the Black American experience. Aliyah Salmon earned her BFA in textile design from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2018 and currently resides and works in Brooklyn, NY.