Whitney Chinonye Ernest, raised as a third culture kid, was born to Nigerian-Igbo parents but has been immersed in a mixed culture since relocating to Ghana in 2006. Her journey in the world of art began at the tender age of 9, when she discovered her passion for painting comics.
Currently, Whitney’s art pieces showcase her unique style of doodle art, heavily influenced by renowned artists such as @Zenspiredesigns, @zhc, and @vexx. She views her art as a form of documentation, with a primary goal of capturing the essence of contemporary life experiences. Whitney is driven by a desire to preserve significant moments that shape human existence, allowing future generations to reflect upon and interpret the world through her creations. Her personal experiences, including the impact of events such as the war in Ivory Coast and political instability in Nigeria, have fueled her passion for documenting pivotal moments.
She draws inspiration from her context, stating “the philosophy, the why I create what I create the way I create is because of my context”. In her 2020 artchive, she documented over 20 significant events on a single canvas, creating a time capsule that captures moments like the End SARS movement, Black Lives Matter, and Kanye West’s presidential campaign.
Whitney has collaborated with Black Star Line, creating an art piece to honour Marcus Garvey’s efforts to reunite the diaspora with Africa. Additionally, she has partnered with Kenga Magazine and Beehive to further amplify her artistic vision for Afro Gen-z communities.
Having recently graduated with honours in Business Management from African Leadership University, Whitney envisions a future where she works with @lemighariokwu @snalo_ because their work closely aligns to her style and approach. In the short term, she plans to continue her artchiving series and collaborate with Gen Z communities. She is also preparing to release an artbook that captures the socio-economic and political perspectives of African Gen Z individuals.
“I am as passionate about creativity as I am about education. I will like to see my work grow and invest into other communities accross the continent. I see myself as an agent for social change and want my work to invest into community development specifilly creativity and education and re-introducing creativity into the african educational experience”.
Written by Emmanuel Paapa Quaicoe.
