This month we have the honor of featuring Shalom Aburu, a multi-talented artist from Uganda who now resides in Washington State. She is a fashion designer, artist, filmmaker, dancer, and mixed media artist. Shalom transforms paint and fabric into breathtaking and thought-provoking imagery on canvas as well as gorgeous clothing inspired by her African heritage and life experiences.

Early influences

Art has always been a theme in Shalom’s everyday life. Her upbringing included regular exposure to a myriad of beautiful art forms that were embedded in her culture. Some examples of the vibrant artistry people used to express themselves included pottery, basket weaving, and textile making. Everything down to the architecture was a display of creativity surrounding her. She describes herself as having been a child who was deeply creative, for she was naturally drawn to fine art, fiber arts, and performance. Art wasn’t just a hobby; it was an integral part of life itself.

Innovation

Shalom’s journey to becoming a fashion designer came as a surprise to her, but it was clearly something she was gifted in and passionate about enough to become a natural outcome of her hard work and dedication to the craft.

“In high school, I taught myself fashion design. It started as curiosity and quickly became something more intentional. When I moved to the United States at 18, I decided to pursue it more seriously, exploring how I could translate what I carried from home into a new environment” -Shalom Aburu

During the pandemic, Shalom found herself feeling uncertain and disoriented. In pursuit of a way to process the trying times, she picked up acrylic painting. She began using bold African textiles and paint on canvas. By doing so, she was able to combine her love for fashion with her newfound passion of mixed media art. She describes this experience as feeling aligned with both her past and present.

Inspiration

Shalom takes inspiration from the bold colors, layered textures, and intentional composition used in African artistry. You’ll find bright primary colors, such as vibrant oranges, pops of gold, and contrasting patterns in everything from her jewelry to her canvases.

“There is a certain confidence in African visual language that I am always drawn back to.” -Shalom Aburu

In addition to drawing ideas from the art she enjoys, Shalom uses inspiration from her lived experiences. Being able to look inward at both her own emotions and connect with universal experiences has guided her to create striking masterpieces many others can relate to. While admiring her paintings, the viewer is instinctively enticed to stop and reflect. She describes human emotions as sitting at the center of her work.

“Painting allows me to sit with those experiences and make sense of them without having to explain them directly. It becomes a space where I can process, question, and exist more honestly.” -Shalom Aburu

Creative Process

Shalom lets her intuition guide her artistic process as she enters an impressive flow state. She often listens to music that helps create an ideal atmosphere for her work sessions. She enjoys songs from musicians such as Beyoncé, Beethoven, and Billie Eilish. Since each vibe shifts the energy differently, she listens to whatever she feels she needs at any given moment.

“Once I have the main elements like composition and direction in place, I move into a more emotional phase. At that point, I focus on embodying a single emotion so I can translate it honestly onto the canvas. I usually play one song that carries that emotion on repeat and work for hours.” -Shalom Aburu

Cultivating balance

Shalom has many passions that she makes time for regularly amid an often chaotic life. Her creative pursuits, responsibilities, and interpersonal relationships have led her to be flexible and deliberate with her time. Rather than trying to fit into an idealized role of what a productive person looks like, her personalized lifestyle enables her to juggle family life while engaging in her many creative endeavors.

“Balance, for me, is not about having everything neatly organized. It is about giving myself permission to exist in a way that actually works for me. I have had to let go of perfection and the idea that there is one correct way to be productive. I work in alignment with how my mind functions.” -Shalom Aburu

Despite advice she’s received encouraging her to start each day with structured productive habits, she chooses to embrace slow mornings with her kids. She lets herself create when inspiration strikes, even if it happens at 3am. She finds that working in the middle of the night gives her the quiet she needs to be creative. She has learned to trust herself more and let go of the shame that sometimes comes along with not following a routine that seems to work well for others. This mindset helps her live a creative and productive life where she can be present in the moment.

Shalom continues to grow and enjoy her creative life. She can be found sharing her painting process and short films on YouTube, performing on stage, and gracing runways with her stunning couture designs. Who knows what amazing things she’ll create next!

Keep up with this amazing artist here!

Website with links to socials: http://shalomaburu.com/

Bask in the spotlight!

Are you a local artist who wants to share your journey? Perhaps, you know a talented artist you'd like to nominate for an Artist Spotlight. If either of these apply to you, send your inquiry to bewilderingwalls@gmail.com for consideration!