Arnaya Needleman

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Artist statement

Arnaya is a self-taught artist born in Boston (1989), who now resides in Los Angeles. In 2020, she left her corporate job and began painting in 2021. Arnaya received her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and her Master’s in Vicimolgy, which has allotted her the tools to educate the communities in which she lived, on social justice issues and education reform. Because of this foundational knowledge, along with her passion for people, she continues to infuse those perspectives into her art, solely based on humanity–-all the good and bad that it entails. In her practice, Arnaya uses acrylic paint, along with other mediums to create rich textures and colors, on both canvas and discarded wood. Arnaya’s art evokes emotion in its purest form while creating a dialogue with the viewer. Her process of making art reminds her that art is imperfect, as it is a reflection of the human experience- imperfect, flawed, and often messy. She finds beauty in it all.

Artwork

• You're Almost There, 2022. acrylic and oil pastel on canvas
• Mixed Emotions, 2021. acrylic paint and resin on wood
• Eternal, 2023. acrylic charcoal oil pastel on canvas
• Thin Black Line, 2022. acrylic on canvas
• Tuesday Morning Therapy, 2023. acrylic and spray paint on canvas
• Balanced, 2023. acrylic on canvas
• Comfort in Her Cloth, 2023. acrylic paint on canvas