this week on @thesoftlifepod we step into the vibrant world of Raven Irabor, (@ravencherisse) a Trinidadian-Nigerian Pan-African artist from the Bronx, NYC. Raven opens up about her creative journey, sharing how her teenage years as young artist during the Tumblr era shaped her artistic practice and how she’s now intentionally navigating the creative industry. she also reveals the power of community healing and her latest exhibit, 'Last Night I Cried Unveiling Liminal Spaces,' which was recently on display at @gallery90220 this spring. in this conversation, we discuss:

alchemizing pain into art: we discuss her latest exhibition, “Last Night I Cried…Unveiling Liminal Spaces” which was on display at the Black owned gallery- 90220, in LA which portrays her journey of transforming the liminal space of heartbreak into creative expression.

life as a creative director, producer and image maker: from curating to producing installations, Raven gives us a glimpse into her life as a multi-hyphenate artist and image maker, carving out her own lane.

growing up in the Tumblr era: Raven shares how the gritty and graffiti-filled streets of the Lower East Side in NYC, her strolls through SoHo, and being part of the underground Tumblr creative era have kept her inspired throughout her creative career.

available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple and more.

00:00 Introduction and Background

08:45 Day-to-Day Life and Organizational Strategies

12:45 Saturn Return and Self-Rediscovery

16:17 Inspiration and Creation of 'Last Night I Cried Unveiling Liminal Spaces'

24:41 Alchemizing Pain into Art and Self-Care Practices

27:58 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in the Art Industry

31:10 Affirming Black Artists: Setting Rates and Negotiating

39:27 Creative Inspirations: Directors Who Navigate Different Industries

43:26 Dedicating Work to the People of the Diaspora

48:40 Finding Inspiration in Physical Spaces and Community

51:50 Comfort Food: Carbs for the Soul

52:22 Favorite Creative Medium: Film and Collage

53:25 Motivating Songs for creative inspo

56:14 Future Showings of 'Last Night I Cried' Exhibition and Merch

CONNECT WITH RAVEN:

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CREDITS:

host: Priscilla O. Agyeman,MPH, founder of Saddie Baddies®

produced by: Eduay, founder of Dos Catorce® Production Co.

cover art & photography: Eduay, founder of Dos Catorce® Production Co.