Tag: Faith Austin

Dots and Grotesque: A Graditude Entry

Yayoi Kusama was open about her mental health and how it drove her art. Hallucinations of dots, flowers and beautifully painted fabric began when she was a young girl of just ten. Despite being one of the top female artists of our time, #19, Ms Kusama lived in a mental institution from 1977 until her death this year 2026.

I have graditude for Ms Kusama for helping me find the courage to use my creative voice knowing it would be accented by my mental health. I was free to be Faith Austin, without shame of obsession, dissociation, ticks and now psychosis after COVID.

Once my feet were pointed in the right direction I discovered the power of Frida Kahlo to whom I am forever grateful.

I have great respect for the experience of her youth. She became powerful with painful pieces. Her painful pieces guided me to express myself in similar ways.

Yayoi Kusama added revelation of self while Frieda Kahlo added subject matter. As an artist I’m known for African American Contemporary Art but art therapy pieces can be brutal, unapologetic.

Thanks to these two individuals I feel whole as an artist, grounded. As an artist I know who I am and it feels good.

With hope,
Faith