ANN ARBOR, Mich. – “Having my work displayed is only the beginning to realizing my dream of sharing my art with the world. It’s the sweetest way to say goodbye to my hometown and will hopefully inspire an artist in Ann Arbor, young or old,” said artist Ayanna Bell.
Her art will be displayed at Café Zola, at 112 W. Washington St., in downtown Ann Arbor from mid-April to mid-May.
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The exhibit is nostalgic for Bell and has brought her life full circle. “I remember seeing a huge painting at Café Zola years ago at a Mother’s Day brunch and I was enchanted by it throughout our entire meal,” she said.
“The exhibition encapsulates the profound transition from adolescence to adulthood. It captures the essence of the challenges and triumphs that accompany such a transformative journey.”
A soon-to-be University of Michigan Penny Stamps School of Art & Design graduate, Bell transitioned from medicine to art during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I never imagined a career in the arts until recently. I convinced myself I’d go into the medical field for years, until the pandemic hit. Time at home led me back to my art,” she said.
Through her Café Zola exhibit, Bell invites viewers to take a visual journey through introspection and self-discovery.
“I’m basically saying, ‘Hey, come check out my work and think about how you’ve overcome your challenges, and how you’re showing up in life today.’ I want people to have a positive reflection on how they got to where their feet are standing,” she said.
The collection features recently created paintings and some that Bell created in late 2023.
“I was always creative as a kid, but it escaped me in my adolescence when I became consumed by the extracurriculars in high school and pressures of pursuing a degree that would be ‘secure.’ I never imagined a career in the arts until recently,” she said.
Bell will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in May.