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

Hi SPAGHETTI, what makes you happy? Why?
Plants make me happy. I feel gratitude when I can grow a plant myself through propagation or if I can save a plant that isn’t looking too healthy. My mom, who passed away in 2019, always kept plants in our home. From my childhood, I cannot remember a time that there were no plants at home. When she died, I inherited about 10 potted plants — a few of which were my age or older. I had no idea how to keep them going, and I realized in that time that I had not paid enough attention to the plants I saw everyday. While grieving my mother, I desperately tried to keep her plants alive. I lost a few spider plants and some sort of palm was decapitated by my poorly hung curtain rod. I did, however, keep a good amount of pothos plants and a Chinese evergreen alive.

In the years following, I’ve accumulated my own plants and shared propagations with loved ones. I find happiness in this because it makes me feel connected to my mom.

My art is heavily influenced by nature. I use vines and leaves to represent growth and change. Then, I use flowers to demonstrate the celebration or result of that growth. When someone asks for a painting celebrating their bodies, I might put them in a luscious garden or have flowers growing out of them. My whole approach to life has changed as my art has grown.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is colorful and emotional.

I feel like I’ve always wanted to express myself and I haven’t always had the words or the confidence to share the words. By developing my own key of symbols and colors, I feel like I’ve built up my strength in expressing myself. Through playing with all these colors and symbols, it feels like I’ve created my own language. I made my first coloring book about a year ago and now I feel like the possibilities are endless.

My dad was a painter, but he died when I was young, and my brother has been an artist for as long as I can remember — so it’s definitely in the genes, but I also held myself to ridiculously high standards for a long time. I actively avoided making art for a long time, but in 2020, I realized it was okay to just TRY. I probably would have kept it secret, but with my brother’s support, I shared my journey with people through Instagram. With one set of acrylic paints, I physically couldn’t stop painting scraps of cardboard, then it escalated to old furniture and thrifted purses and canvases and mirrors. It all just accelerated very quickly, but it’s been transformative. I’ve really let myself grow and change through this process. I tend to be hard on myself, so it’s been difficult to find a balance between perfectionism and authenticity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am actually the best friend who’s visiting LA soon and needs recommendations! I am a born and raised Jersey girl, but I’ve been to LA a few times and plan to return soon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I love a shout out!! First and foremost, I gotta shout out my big brother Technodrome1, Takun Williams, JOSH. Josh has encouraged me to share my art with the world. He has also pushed me to think about what my art means and what I want my role to be as an artist. His love and mentorship have given me a sense of security and support. Make sure y’all check him out, if you haven’t already.

I also want to shout out the AstroKnot Collective in Baltimore! They were the first group to invite me in to sell my art in person. They made me feel validated in my identity as an artist. Check them oooouutttt.

I would also be remiss not to shout out my late parents. It has been enormously difficult to function without either of them, but I don’t feel abandoned. I feel supported and loved — I know they are proud of me and that brings me peace.

Website: https://spaghettitsunami.com

Instagram: spaghetti_tsunami

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