Zsudayka Nzinga is a mixed media artist and designer from Denver, CO living in Washington, DC. Her work is largely focused on the Black woman in America including themes of motherhood and culture. Her pieces explore patterns and textures of Black American culture using acrylic, oil, paper, fabric and ink on canvas. She also makes jewelry using silver, wood, resin and precious stones.

Nzinga fuses traditional art forms passed through the Diaspora to create work which speaks to the power of history and how visual art aides in defining culture and identity. Her subjects are Black Americans and often women, placed in regal and empowering poses and scenes. Her work mimics African American stich patterns and expounds traditional southern textile pattern methods. Her collage work is hand torn and arranged to create colorful and highly patterned people who resemble fabric. Her subjects are all powerful and composed. It’s especially important for her to highlight the pride and the beauty of her community.

Her two pieces “Me and My Baby” and “Bedtime Prayers” are her own children. “Me and My Baby” is based on a photo taken of her and her youngest daughter by her husband at one of his art shows. Part of her revolution as an artist is to showcase the beauty of her culture and the importance of family and raising children with joy and passing the values of her culture on to them. 

“Bedtime Prayers” also features her toddlers. ‘I wanted them to pose for a source photo praying, but the baby would not cooperate. I thought it was a great way to show how unpredictable motherhood is and how small children do what they want to do.’