Obtained a Bachelors of Fine Art from BYU

Melissa (Tshikamba) is an Illustrator and figurative artist currently based in Utah. A love of sacred imagery, the divine feminine, abstract realism, history, the ethereal, African symbols, mythology, cosmology, Mother Nature, and her ancestral heritage inspires her art. Her main mediums are 22 karat gold leaf and oil, and she brings texture and depth to her pieces with sculpture and resin. She combines traditional African patterns and cultures with the modern contemporary, often incorporating circles, bees, and gold into her work—representative of eternity, matriarchy, royalty, light, and empowerment.

Tshikamba was raised in a mixed race, religious family, which instilled in her a love for the Divine. As a visual and kinesthetic learner, she noticed early on there weren’t any images that looked like her, or her siblings. Many religions claim that we are all sons and daughters of a Creator, yet their artwork lacks truth and diversity. This fueled her mission and passion to help shift that narrative and create images that are a better reflection of our human family.

Above all, Tshikamba aims to eradicate internalized racism, enlighten and empower others, and expand and showcase the endless possibilities and perspectives from the African Diaspora. By exploring themes within Black Romanticism, and redefining Eurocentric standards of beauty, she uses her illustrations to promote the stories of those who have been pushed to the margins of society. She hopes to instill a message of self-love to all those who view her art.