Meet Neigh Ramirez | Visual Artist & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Neigh Ramirez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Neigh, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I see risks as taking action that others don’t seem to do or advise doing. It has no guaranteed positive result but is led by authentic, faith-inspired desire. As someone who never fit in since childhood, I’ve naturally become very secure in my own opinions and choices. I’ve leaned into risk taking since high school, starting with fashion, and I enjoyed the energy I’d create by standing out intentionally. Upon a divine spiritual awakening, I took many major risks that felt self-contradictory and genuinely scary, leading me into a new lifestyle focused on art. This was my first time not knowing what to expect of my future, as I used to have it all planned out with school and basketball. I fell in love with the mystical ability to dream of new possibilities that could only occur through risks. Whenever I feared that I was making irresponsible decisions (which others also discouraged), I had to battle my need for certainty that I would succeed. Discomfort means I’m doing something new and possibly iconic. Risk taking often means there’s no one else to follow, but I learned that “if the path is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s.”
I’ve watched some of my risks fail, but many of them have led me to greatness and a pure joy. I know the distinction between alignment and misalignment, and sometimes risk is the deciding factor. Now I run towards risks, always daring to surprise others with my unexpected talents and ability to make anything work, out of nothing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on oil paint, but I’m currently experimenting with intertwining sketching, fashion design, performance, airbrush, film and research. My work stemmed from a need to create Blackness around me, which my hometown lacked. This severely affected my mental health. What sets me apart from others is my unique lens of Black media, identity and culture as something I’ve yearned for since childhood. My art naturally has an element of fantasy and surrealism, rather than being simple documentation of what is around me, and this creates insight into deeper psychology of a young Black (non binary) woman/girl. My love for traditional creative techniques gives my work an elevated look, but the topics are very modern yet timeless. I’m most excited to share my first series of abstract pieces, which I’m currently working on. It has been an extremely difficult process as I’m learning to release perfectionism and the goal of creating “beautiful work.” Art has taken on a new purpose for me, so this series will show more ego-less decisions and more painful truth.
Education and knowledge are a huge foundation of both my being and my art. I want people to know that I create to empower and to make change, not just to sit in pain forever.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, we’re taking city e-bikes down Gerrard st E early in the morning to enjoy the sun rising on the horizon ahead. We stop at Frans for breakfast, then we’re hanging out at my home studio so we can dance to loud music and chill. For lunch, we’re eating jerk pork sandwiches at Golden Patty in Kensington Market, then we can visit the MOCA Gallery on the West end. To end the night, we’re going to a Toronto Kiki Ball to see the BEST dancers, have some good laughs and be surrounded by beauty, love and talent. I might end up walking a category too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I firstly want to thank The Teresa Group and Project Humanity which are two organizations that have taken such good care of me as an artist and that consistently believe in me. They’ve given me the opportunity to teach and mentor youth, which has taught me that I have much to offer as an artist and as a person. Second, my best friend Max Delroy-Georges is a shining star full of passion and love that inspires, supports and assists me in all my out of the ordinary aspirations and ways of expressing myself. Like me, Max is a non-binary artist that stands out and I’m extremely grateful that we have each other as we make our dreams a reality. I also would not have been able to take risks without my sister Raeven having my back, proving that it truly takes a village.

Website: https://www.laneighramirez.ca

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neighramirez/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laneighramirez/

Other: https://vimeo.com/user105818230

Image Credits
Intro photo: Thulasi Madhuri
Studio photo: Antonio Berhan
Painting photo: Ian Pereira