Hi Michelle. What are some of the inspirations behind your art?

“I love stories and all story-telling devices, so movies and books are a constant source of inspiration. Folk-tales have always been a particular favourite of mine and I love the illustrations (which are often a bit odd and spooky) that tend to accompany these cautionary stories. I also find nature very inspiring and try to incorporate a little piece of it into all of my artworks.”

You were raised in Kenya which is one of Womankind’s focus countries. What are some of your favourite memories or experiences of growing up in Nairobi?

“I moved to Nairobi, Kenya when I was around 2 years old and lived there till I was 13. Then I migrated to Melbourne, Australia.

I have childhood memories of enjoying the view of the Savannah on my bus ride home (our home was quite close to a National Park), eating way to much sugar cane at the market and going on camping trips where seeing herds of wildebeest, elephants and giraffes were the norm.

Nairobi was a beautiful (albeit troubled) city to grow up in. I have many fond memories of my time spent there.”

We love the illustration you designed for our tote bags – can you talk us through how you arrived at that design? What were some of your influences?

“I was influenced by traditional printmaking methods where limited colours and graphic shapes are often used. Having a design that was bold and easily identifiable was an important consideration. I also wanted the design to have a sense of optimism and triumph, hence the empowered raised fist motif across all the marching women.”

What does feminism mean to you?

“To me, feminism means a collective movement that aims to better improve the lives of women and gender diverse people, in particular those who are disproportionately affected by class or racial structures.”

And how do you translate your feminism into your art?

“I think I indirectly achieve this through endeavouring to collaborate with organisations who aim to empower and change women’s lives. These organisations do all the heavy lifting, and I can only hope my artwork helps in any little way it can. I’ve worked with a number of organisations who provide support for victims of family violence, advocate for gender equity and provide community resources for women.”

What advice would you give to any aspiring feminist artist?

“Try to have a supportive network of people in your professional life that you can turn to if anything comes up. Working as an artist or illustrator can be a solitary experience which may leave you vulnerable to particular kinds of worker exploitation that are unique to freelancers. Join a local community group that has like-minded creatives and participate in local events that give you an opportunity to organically meet more people and gain more knowledge about your industry.

For anyone who would like to check out more feminist art, are there any artists/illustrators you would recommend?

“I can recommend a few female artists and illustrators who inspire me. Jillian Tamaki, Carson Ellis, Felicita Sala, Joohee Yoon and Maria Dek are some of my favourites.”

Check out more of Michelle’s work on her artist profile or on her Instagram.

The post Catching up with Michelle Pereira, the artist behind our Future is Feminist tote bags appeared first on Womankind Worldwide.