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My name is Sumayyah Muhammad and i’m an oil-based figurative mixed media artist born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and currently living/working in Atlanta, Georgia. I earned my BFA from College For Creative Studies in Detroit and currently pursuing my MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design.

My work is rooted in the traditions of contemporary portraiture and Black aesthetics, centering women as subjects of adornment and beauty while amplifying their presence through my art. Drawing inspiration from fashion, photography, and my identity as a Black woman. I create expressive figures that use bold color as both self-expression and stylistic exploration. Working in oil paint, I build layered surfaces where color and pattern evoke texture, depth, and movement.

Adornments, jewelry, scarves, fashion, and hairstyles, are integral to my work, reflecting the rich visual language of my community. The paisley patterns I incorporate are inspired by scarves and headwraps commonly found in beauty supply stores, objects that carry traditions of hair protection while also serving as powerful statements of style and identity within me. Through my paintings, I celebrate creativity, vibrancy, and the enduring cultural significance of adornment.