Meet Brittainy Moye | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittainy Moye and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittainy, how does your business help the community?
My goal is to illuminate those of us typically marginalized in ways we are unaccustomed to seeing. A driving force behind my perspective and my work is the opportunity showcase people of color, womxn of all shapes/sizes/presentations, and members of the LGBTQIAA in all of our complex intersectionality, doing any and everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary, and capture us in a way that stirs emotion. My hope is that seeing ourselves represented in art–whether relatable or aspirational–will provide another avenue for us to heal ourselves. I hope to consequently impact the ideas and perceptions of those used to seeing any one group as a monolith… In other words, whether viewing as my client or not, I aim to give the gift of seeing and feeling seen. The more souls encounter my work–and the more space created for work like mine and so many other artists of color–the greater the positive impact on our collective consciousness…and maybe by the time my kids are explaining this to their kids, seeing oneself won’t feel like catching sight of a unicorn. On a day-to-day (and less abstract) basis, I am intentional in my choice of clients and causes, taking care to work with and highlight nonprofit organizations serving communities of color and the most vulnerable among us, independent artists of color, as well as local businesses–particularly those headed by and/or serving womxn/BIPOC/members of the LGBTQIAA community.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I owe my visual perspective to my obsession with nostalgia. The iconic photography of Annie Leibovitz, Gordan Parks, Mic Rock, Richard Avedon, Erwin Blumenfeld, Dorothea Lange and Diane Arbus…the film style of Steven Speilberg, Sofia Coppola, and Terrence Malick…I consumed (and continue to consume) as much as I can by these and countless other visual artists…don’t even get me started on the written works! My journey to photography as a career has been a winding one that started when I was little and first picked up a toy camera, wove and wound through a whole career in school psychology, and landed here: somewhere between convincing myself it’s okay to accept financial compensation for this—and living entirely off of my art. But, I’m on my way. And every time I get tired or jaded or feel like my work isn’t worthy…someone comes along and reminds me of my purpose by sharing the personal impact of one of my images…or I connect with an incredible artist…or an extraordinary opportunity falls in my lap… as if the Universe itself is winking my direction and letting me know I’m on the right track.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d have to take them to Chef Keisha Griggs’s Ate Kitchen for my very favorite Salmon Burger of all time (now inside Politan Row!), get brunch at Tout Suite grab pizza from one of my favorite spots Star Pizza or Franks pizza In a perfect world…we’d check out some art at Bisong Art Gallery, the new all-female art gallery Inside Her Studio, the Menil Collection, and the art market at Finn Hall We’d stop through my favorite parks: Memorial, Hermann, and Graffiti parks, plus Centennial Gardens And grab some coffee from my favorite spots—Black Hole, Siphon Coffee, Cafe Brasil, and The Tipping Point And catch some casual nightlife (or maybe even some socially distanced live music?) at Axelrad, The Rustic, or WhiteOak Music Hall. I’m not giving away my French fry spots…forget about it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Oh man! Too many! Greg Noire was the first Houston-based artist that I became a fan of before I even realized he was Houston-based. His work continues to inspire and motivate (and validate) my passion for music photography (especially of the live variety)…and turns out he’s actually a nice guy too! Likewise, Houston’s community of creatives and makers is incredible. From the muralists and other visual artists out at The Silos, Hardy and Nance Studios and Contemporary Arts Museum…the incredible poets of Write About Now (WAN) and organizations like Writers in Schools…organizations like Blmhtx, Say Her Name and Artivism Community Art’s Black Speculative Art Movement…even local business owners like Nzingah Gross (Inclusive Randomness) and Carla Sue are always supporting and inspiring me to remain unapologetically committed to authenticity, and serve as evidence that consistent branding and marketing can be done and done WELL without sacrificing The Message… Oh and I can’t forget to shout out the incredible yoga communities at Black Swan and Atrium Yoga here in Houston without which my sanity would be far more precarious! There’s really not enough time and space for this question haha

Website: itsbamoye.com
Instagram: b.a.moye
Twitter: bellauccella

Image Credits
B.A.Moye