Tayla Hart

Tayla Hart (She/They) | Milwaukee

My work is deeply tied to my roots, my own history, and the relentless fight for joy and peace in a world that tries to deny me both. 

What drives your creative practice, and how has your work evolved over time in response to your personal experiences or environment?

What drives my creative practice is mourning and comforting my inner child. I lost the man that raised me, my GranDanny, in May of 2024. It made me realize how much pain and grief I have been holding in my body. Ignoring. I hadn’t been coping or finishing any artwork for myself, until I experienced heartbreak. That’s what made me pause and question. That was the most betraying feeling in the world. That is what radicalized me. This world is so overstimulating. It overstimulated me from what matters most. My ancestors, my family, and my community now. 

Can you share a story behind a specific piece or project that holds deep significance for you? What did you learn from that creative process? Also please share an image of available of your work. 

I pulled an all-nighter just to finish this piece up in time for election day. It felt like a personal betrayal to have a president and party be actively sworn in who are against everything that I am and everything that I stand for. 

What role does community play in your art-making process, and how do you hope your work impacts those who engage with it?

My hope is that my work sparks honest conversation that I am sometimes too afraid to admit out loud. Art allows me to be authentic and gives me the courage to be myself. To say what I really think and allow the viewer to resonate, have their own feelings, or ask a question. That is what true community is about. Being real and being honest. 

How do you navigate creative challenges or moments of artistic block, and what advice would you offer emerging artists facing similar obstacles?

I manage my artist block by living out my artistry and being self-reflective. I am truly re-learning how to love and care for my inner child through this process. My advice to emerging artists or to anyone facing similar obstacles is to just always choose to make the art you think is good. Sometimes you may need to scribble, sometimes you just need to jot your ideas down. But that’s okay! You can always return to it later or make something new.