ARTIST - PHOTOGRAPHER - TEXTIL ARTIST - FASHION DESIGNER
ROOTS
The Roots series embodies the beginning of my current artistic practice.
I paint roots onto fabric in a meditative state, entering a felt connection with ancestry, belonging and a larger spiritual presence.
The act of painting becomes a way of sensing a quiet dialogue between body, fabric and feelings.
These hand-painted textiles transform into sculptural garments that are shaped by the body and captured through photography. Forming the visual core of a practice that seeks presence, connection, and healing through art.
FASHION DESIGNER - PHOTOGRAPHER - CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Kairo 04.7 | MENTORSHIP CREATIVE COLLABORATION | 2024-CURRENT
Kairo 04.7 is a fashion project rooted in resilience and cultural expression, founded by Gambian designer Bubacarr Sabally. As his collaborator, I support the development of his technical sewing skills and construction techniques, offering hands-on guidance that strengthens his confidence in navigating life and building sustainable creative independence.
My role includes:
Mentoring in sewing, finishing, and garment construction
Visual direction through fashion photography and Branding
Co-creation of storytelling around identity, empowerment, and upcycling
FASHION EDUCATOR - TANZANIAN ART COLLECTIVE - MERVKI REPUBLIC
TANZANIAN ART COLLECTIVE, CURRENTLY EXHIBITING AT HUMBORLD FORUM | 2024 - CURRENT
I work as a fashion educator for an art and fashion collective that is currently presenting an exhibition at the Humboldt Forum. My role is to support the seven-member team with my extensive knowledge of the international fashion industry. To this end, I developed a mentoring strategy plan that - in eight phases - will enable the artists and designers to launch their own brands.
FASHION MENTOR FOR TANZANIAN FASHION DESIGNER
PROJECT BY “ALLIANCE FRANCAIS” IN DAR ES SALAAM | 2023-2024
As a Fashion Mentor for the "Viraka Freshi" project, a Swahili-inspired incubator for emerging designers, I mentored young talents in Tanzania’s vibrant fashion scene. The project, in collaboration with the "Alliance Française" in Dar es Salaam, focuses on upcycling fashion by blending African designs. I guided the designers in refining their skills, fostering their creative visions, and encouraging them to experiment with new ways of reinterpreting fashion.
PHOTOGRAPHER
PHOTOGRAPHIC DIALOG IN DAR ES SALAAM | 2023
Collaborated with a talent agency on a photography project capturing dancers, models, and actors from Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. My images highlighted the vibrant energy and cultural connections of the East African creative scene.
FOUNDER, CREATIVE DIRECTOR & PHOTOGRAPHER
LES SOEURS SHOP - THE CURVY CONCEPT STORE | 2015 - CURRENT
I founded Les Soeurs Shop to offer a space for curvy women, a space where they could feel seen, stylish, and powerful. It became a platform not only for fashion but for challenging beauty standards through bold photography and inclusive storytelling. Through this, I discovered my love for photographing.
Over time, my deeper questions about sustainability, identity, and purpose in fashion became louder. I realized I had to shift my business mindset toward something more meaningful. les Soeurs gave me the ground to explore that.
DIASPORA STORYTELLING
FASHION. TOUGHTS. REVOLUTION. | AFRICAN FASHION MAGAZINE | BLOG | 2011
Motherhood shaped a pivotal moment in my life, leading me to return to Berlin in order to create a meaningful balance between my artistic practice and family responsibilities. During this time, I continued to develop my work around the African diaspora, fostering visibility and dialogue through my blog.
Fashion. Thoughts. Revolution, which featured interviews exploring creative influences and personal histories within the diaspora.
FASHION DESIGNER, PATTERNMAKER & STYLIST
CHOOSING A NEW PATH IN ART AND FASHION | 2009 - 2011
I moved to Paris to learn from the fashion industry and craftsmanship, hoping to work at major houses like YSL. However, due to the global economic crisis, there were very few job openings. Instead, I worked on various freelance projects and product development. It was a creative and experimental period for me.
FASHION DESIGNER IN LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION COMPANY
CREATIVE GROWTH AND LARGE SCALE PRODUCTION IN MAURITIUS | 2009
"Fashion. Thoughts. Revolution” was more than just a blog; it was a space where fashion and art met to create subtle yet powerful political conversations. Through interviews with individuals from the African diaspora, I explored how these fields could serve as a medium for reflection and change, encouraging dialogue on identity, culture, and education. The blog aimed to open spaces for exchange and understanding, using the non-violent power of art and fashion to spark important discussions.
AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER & PATTERNMAKER
QED-HOMME-BERLIN | A MENSWEAR BRAND | 2006 - 2009
QED-Homme was a menswear label I co-founded directly after fashion school with two fellow students. The label’s kickstart came when I participated in and won a fashion show competition, which brought significant attention to our work. We quickly gained recognition, winning an award two years in a row. I had the privilege of showcasing our collections at prestigious fashion shows in Paris, London, and New York. After conducting an international market analysis, I decided to leave the label. I realized that with a brand like ours, we were entering a very narrow market with limited long-term potential.
FASHION DESIGNER AND PATTERNMAKER
ESMOD FASHION UNVERSITY BERLIN | 2003-2006
From 2003 to 2006, I studied Fashion Design and graduated in 2006 winning an award with the best creative thesis. My final collection was inspired by the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and the later Hip-Hop era of the 1980s. The collection featured self-designed printed fabrics that incorporated poetry, creating a connection between fashion, history, and music. It reflected the deep meaning of street culture and the Black community.
PHOTOGRAPHER & POLITICAL OBSERVER
EXPLORING SOCIALISM & COMMUNISM IN CUBA | 2000
In 2000, I stayed several months in to Cuba to immerse myself in socialism and communism, driven by a desire to understand these ideologies from the inside. Although I was far away, the fall of the Iron Curtain left a deep impression on me. I didn’t yet understand socialism, nor the systems that were collapsing.
During this time, I started to photograph with my pocket camera on film.
AIRHOSTESS, FASHION DESIGNER & PRODUCTION LEADER
AIRLINE - AIRHOSTESS - Frankfurt am main | 1999 - 2003
During this time, I worked on productions in several African countries, collaborating closely with local artisans. It was during this period that I realized I wanted to formally study fashion design.
MY MIAMI EXPERIENCE | 1996 - 1997
Between 1995 and 1996, I lived in South Beach, Miami, where I was deeply moved by the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty. During this time, I married a New York/Puerto Rican artist to stay together. I also explored local art schools but quickly realized that studying in the US was financially out of reach.
REBIRTH IN PUERTO RICO: PAINTING, LANGUAGE & LIBERATION
PUERTO RICO | 1995 - 1996
During this time, I supported myself by working in a souvenir shop, selling Cuban cigars, and studying Spanish at the University of Puerto Rico.
The slower, pre-digital rhythm of life gave space for introspection: I painted, I wrote, and I allowed myself to be fully present.
Immersed in the local culture, I found connection within the queer Puerto Rican community, which became a formative part of my sense of belonging.
Eventually, I met a New York-based artist, whom I would later marry in Miami.
EARLY ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND IDENTITY FORMATION
COLUMBUS, OHIO SEEKING | 1993-1994
In 1993, at 17 years old, I left my small, white German town and moved to the U.S. searching for my identity. During my high school year in the U.S., I took an art class that was part of the regular curriculum. My teacher recognized my potential and encouraged me to exhibit — I sold my first pieces during that time. I also participated in a college-level program at the Columbus College of Art and Design, where I created a clay sculpture of a Black man with a fried egg on his head, titled The Hot Man. I was offered a scholarship by the college, which — for reasons I still can't fully explain — I did not accept.
MY CHILDHOOD
PUERTO RICO | 1995 - 1996
Art and photography have always been part of me. My parents practiced photography with passion and intent, and from an early age, I was immersed in creative spaces — attending art workshops, visiting exhibitions, and winning my first competitions.
My grandmother, a seamstress and self-taught patternmaker, had a profound influence on me. Her skill was born out of post-war resilience, and she made many of my childhood clothes with care and ingenuity.