Tschabalala Self’s (b. 1990, Harlem) layered portraits feature curvaceous Black figures amid patterned planes and bright color blocking. Her singular style emerges from kaleidoscopic canvases through an array of painting, printmaking, sewing, and collage techniques— a multimedia approach that traverses the space between artistic and craft traditions. Her recent body of work expands on her critical inquiry into selfhood, exploring the cultural perceptions of Black femininity and the multiplicities of the Black body.

Self graduated from Bard College before receiving her MFA in painting and printmaking from Yale. Her extensive body of work has been exhibited internationally, belongs to numerous private collections, and has achieved six-figure prices at auction. She currently lives and works in Upstate New York.