It was a cool crisp night in Manayunk. One could hear true hip hop music pouring into the streets as the large glass windows to Sole II Soul restaurant sat open wide. As I approached the entrance and opened the door, I walked into earth toned colored walls, white linen tables, and an ambiance set to make each guest feel right at home. I had just walked into Glow, the second personal art show hosted by Philadelphia based artist Ameerah Khabir.
Ameerah’s first art show, ‘Ambitious Girl’ premiered in December of 2011. This show was a step outside of the usual group based exhibits. As an artist who yearned to continuously paint thought provoking images, organizing her first solo exhibit only seemed natural. “It’s hard to showcase your work when people have the ability to look everywhere,” she noted, “that may should selfish, but from a business aspect I needed to be on my own.” And branching off is just what she needed.
As an artist, Ameerah prefers to be noted as such. Her work falling under the umbrella of crafts and all things creative; she rests in a space where her mind can dwell allowing her imagination to sort its feeling through her paint brush. Yet, the term artist is not one she takes lightly. “I never really thought of calling myself an artist until later in life. I didn’t want to claim to be something until I was comfortable with being known as such,” she insists, “Today, people identify themselves as artists, but they haven’t discovered their niche and because they haven’t discovered themselves they use that term as a cop out. People are quick to label themselves, but aren’t doing anything to back up their titles.”
Studying art since the age of seven, Ameerah knew that her life would somehow be intertwined with the world of expressing oneself on a canvas. Yet, as she grew older and life changed to more serious decision making, going to college to study art didn’t seem like a plausible major to her family. “To my family I was already an artist,” she explains, “They wanted me to have more secular opportunities so they didn’t see the point of going to school for art. So, I studied English with a Creative Writing focus instead. This decision forced me to place art into other aspects of my life.”
Using art as a foundation, Ameerah went off to college, yet worked toward her love. It was attending art school at such a young age that taught Ameerah discipline in her craft. Yet, acceptance into the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts provided her with a foundation and sharpened her technique. Thus, as she attended Virginia State University she focused heavily on academia, yet her heart still yearned to paint. But, it wasn’t until the end of her freshman year that Ameerah really discovered the business side of art. “Once I started painting again, I started doing a few art favors for fellow students,” she explains, “then I went on to charge for those favors and once I began to exchange services for money, it was for certain I was a true artist.”
An artist she is, with a vision that doesn’t stop locally. She explains, “I want to develop a full fan base where people know my work. I want to make an impact in other places.” It is for this reason Ameerah created OPAP (Operation Painting for a Purpose). “I did a mural at Gillespie middle school once,” she begins, “Murals have such a hopeful impact that I know I want to bring that to other inner cities. I want to reach people I’ll never have the opportunity to reach in person. I’ll paint it so that I can leave a note or a letter for them. I want to purposefully put paintings in inner city schools.”
It is that love of art, that drive within, that leads Ameerah to continuously paint. It’s a form of freedom. “I wanted to have a signature with my artwork, but I just don’t see it in my work and I am accepting it. My paintings are more centered on the time and space that I am in. My paintings are sometimes political, abstract…therapeutic.”
Having done work for Converse, Power 99FM, Coors Light, Wale, Drake, Marsha Ambrosius, Tyga (and the list can go on), Ameerah certainly has her hands full with making a name for herself. While firmly planting her feet in the art world, Ameerah is certainly trying to live up to her title as artist. “So many people are saying that they are a certain way and aren’t living up to it. I’m just an artist.” An artist who is allowing her work to reside where her title is.
For more information on Ameerah Khabir you can find her on the web at www.ameerahkart.com, Twitter: @AmeerahKArt, Art inquiries: AmeerahKArt@gmail.com.