BIO
Adria Nicole is a South St. Louis City-based artist, musician, and herbalist. Inspired by the natural world, she explores themes of Black joy, beauty, and freedom through her photography, digital illustration, and songwriting. This multifaceted maker of art, music, and magic infuses her work with love, creativity, and a commitment to empowering others.
Adria is a Community Arts Training Institute Fellow and a St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Artist Support Grant recipient. As a singer/songwriter, she has performed across various genres and founded Uke Go Girl!, a nonprofit providing free ukulele instruction to girls. Her paintings and photography have been featured in publications and her current mixed-media work focuses on fanciful human representations and botanical imagery.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Adria is studying for a career in clinical herbalism and is an active member of the St. Louis Herb Society. She also practices herbal alchemy and creates custom ritual oils and potions as BLK MGK WOMAN.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My current work, "Black Butterfly: In Bloom" is a meditation on Black liberation, imagining a world where we can freely exist, grow, and blossom. Through collages combining original botanical and portrait photography with illustration, I create surreal plantscapes featuring winged human figures. These subjects embody the experience of Black folks navigating urban environments, seeking softness and solace in a hostile and often violent world.
The butterfly, a recurring motif in my work, symbolizes rebirth and the pursuit of self-actualization. Inspired by the beauty and magic of nature, I use both visual art and music to craft experiences that evoke wonder, empowerment, and a celebration of Black self-love.