FLY TRAP Oil on canvas 30 x 40 by: Izegbe Ayana ______ Some nights he came close His essence in the wind Grazing her skin Other nights he remained a mirage In the heat of the valley On the worst nights She wasn’t sure if he rode toward her Or away The oldest tale untold Older than the first spring Older than the dance of life Humming tunes with every passing A lock awaiting release A key in search of meaning And in the dim backstage mirror, when smoke curled like halos around her face, she paused often, eyes half-closed, wondering: Was she bound to dreaming of him?
Izegbe Ayana Visual artist exploring the freedoms of curiosity, duality and sensuality. Los Angeles
M For the artist, art is one of the few places where choice will forever be total Mixed media on canvas 36 × 60” Izegbe Ayana Commission work for @mastersvsmachine So very excited for you guys to catch this show! ————————
Artist to Artist 🎨💙 MUA @thescottedit Shot by @manyshiningfathers Dress by @awlove_ @wearhousegallery #dreamsdontworkunlessyoudo
I love when people are so in love with an art form that they become fascinated by it. In a world that demands awareness and certainty, curiosity has quietly gone missing. Yet curiosity is the very essence that once inspired us to take our first, trembling steps. As an oil painter, my work is rooted in dreams and surrealism, where reality and imagination intertwine in the most unpredictable ways. I often feel that in my art I dance between how much of myself I’m willing to reflect on versus my desire to master a skill. It is all very emotional, passionate, and focused for me. It feels good knowing that every time I touch the canvas, I’m going to get out what I’ve put in. There’s a trust in it which feels rare in my life. In a way, it’s the place where I’ve learned to embrace curiosity. To be a woman is to know scarcity of safe spaces. I have lived long enough to see how easily the innocence and interior lives of women can be taken from them—by objectification, by circumstance, by the simple act of walking through a world that demands hyper vigilance. My devotion to painting is both an act of protection and a rebellion. It is my consciously curious act of resistance. And my most courageous one. Through it I speak, heal, and transform. The studio becomes a sanctuary where sensuality and fear coexist, where playfulness meets philosophy. Here, I am the alchemist and the wanderer. I think about my career as an artist and it feels risky to say these things. There’s just no other way I could convey my truth. My path has been a continual reclamation of mind, body, and identity. Deciding to pick up the paint brush and never stop came with an unraveling of everything within me. It has given me a place where I can surrender and the surrendering feels good. Like purpose. It is how I’ve truly stepped into myself and with consistency, the world I thought I was building, has built me. Facing a blank canvas, one thought always returns: It is safe to be curious here. Photographed by @chrispaulthompson Outfit by @awlove_
A little recap of my fav place to throw a fit. Which one’s your fav?
Messy hair kinda day in the rooftop studio🌻 #painting #artist #oilpaint #sunset ✨ Bless @DoorDash for delivering my palette + case from @MichaelsStores straight to me so I could skip the errands and get right into painting 💅🏽🎨 No dried brushes or ruined paints… just me, my rooftop, and the art.
POV: disposable cameras during Leo SZN.
Life lately #bts #styling
When was the last time you felt safe and protected? Photographer: @manyshiningfathers MUA/Hair: @shirel.safadi Digital drawing: @izegbe.world
Have a seat, I’m about to testify.
2024 ended with being able to accomplish one final goal which was to do a live painting with live music. Thank you to @youronlyvalentine for having me as a part of your event plus @tyjoseph.la and @julia_mji for sharing @lacityart with us to make it all happen. I’m truly grateful. The hors d’oeuvres were sooo good thanks to @melaniedaniels.official 🧑🍳♥️ S/o to all the musicians who set the tone for the night: @youronlyvalentine @jordindearinger @jamichaelfrazier @borrowed_time_music @amyjuliarose @ben.romero.music & @rubysueband and @sofiagraece And the artists who’s art was on view: @banksy @verakochubey @marius.seidlitz @lukasdvorakstudio @lefauves @giulianobekor @robwoodcoxphoto@marina_mazepa @mralexosborne @viktorija_pashuta @astrothebaptist @olha_stepanian @brendannorth @cameronmichel & @tyjoseph.la The photographer who captured moments of the night @dpast.pictures And of course all my friends who came and some I didn’t even get to take a pic with bc they were too busy being behind the camera and giving hugs. Love you all. This is just the beginning and your support really means the world to me. Happy new year! 🎊
I have new feelings about living in cities. Here’s a dump starting with a throwback.
The audio made me tear up in public editing this video. I couldn’t be more grateful that a girl like me from where I’m from has the opportunity to see just a bit of the world. It could have all been so different and so much worse. So when you see me smiling, unbothered, hiking 23,000 steps in my Jordan 1s on a whim just to get to the top, please know it wasn’t easy but its alllllll been SO worth it. #love #travel #wanderer #nomad #digitalnomad #digitalnomadlife #bulgaria #CapCut #rilalakes #hiking #hikes #mountain #landscape #nature #blessed
Almost there 🦋
Just living and sharing
Thankful 🌅 I thanked God a lot today. Let the next chapter begin.
Malaysia wouldn’t be the experience it’s been without @sr.98_. She wasn’t officially a tour guide before she met me but I think she is now lol. Her love for her country, traditions and culture are truly inspiring. Malaysia would do good to recognize her for this. She told me the Hindu stories, dressed me like a her own personal doll in a very special saree and somehow worked us onto national television. She even got me to eat with my hands today 😅😅. How fun! Well it’s time to get back to work but cheers to unforgettable experiences around the world 🌍💖. #travel #culturetrip #worldreligions #temple #saree #hindutemple #malay #malaysiatrending #adventuretime #solotravel #womensupportingwomen
Love you, miss you, wish you were here. Merry Christmas 🎁🎄❤️
Working and playing and working and playing and napping in between. Krabi you’re kinda cute 🩷. #wishyouwerehere #loveyou #seeyousoon #digitalnomad #takeanap #getrightback
Island life is a peaceful little existence. I’ve made some human friends too I swear 😂🩷.
Them: What’s your costume? Me: Fly af.
My girlie @lannyland_ made this skirt so I went outside innit 😎💚 #greenmeansgo #chargedup #greenslime #slimetutorial #fuckaroundandfindout
