Altu Community Series

DESTINY BELGRAVE, an ARTIST born and based in Brooklyn, takes inspiration from the culture she came up in. Through a signature mixed-media approach employing paper cuts and paint, she creates warm and tender mosaic portraits that evoke and memorialize Blackness, family, and culture. Her life is an extension of her work, and vice versa.

In the day, morning and afternoon. I love the sunlight.

I think I subconsciously view my outfits and hair as art. I take the time and intention to build a look in some of the same ways I build a piece. There are also similar color schemes in my outfits that occur in my work.

My future, love, food, building a family and abundance.

Honesty. I don’t take well to lying and deceit.

My softness. It is in direct opposition to how I present in the world. From first glance I may seem cool, calm and collected. But I am actually very soft, silly and super emotional..

Love and food. These are some of the big things that are at the core of what I do and how I move through life.

I don’t know if I admire anything that I may perceive as a fault. But maybe, vanity? Too much of it is detrimental but, I can appreciate it in healthy doses. I think a reasonable amount of vanity can aid in a sense of style, moving with intention and a healthy ego.

I’m a city girl, my go to comfort sound is the sound of a sunny Brooklyn afternoon. Preferably in the Spring or Fall. Cars driving by, birds chirping, kids laughing and playing, wind blowing.

Empathy and understanding.

I take a break and collect myself. I often feel stuck when I’m going through inner turmoil. Which usually means I need to slow down and take care of my body and/or being.