Shani Crowe

Shani Crowe is an interdisciplinary artist from Chicago’s south side. The product of an Art rich, Afrocentric upbringing, Shani creates work that is centered on keeping the proverbial flame of cultural coiffure, adornment, and beauty ritual, as they relate to the diasporic African. She seeks to connect with people through her artistic practice to convey a message of love, cultural identity and Black unity and to create a variety of visual and wearable art, prompting a meaningful exchange between the artist and viewer/client. Shani received her BFA in film production from Howard University’s John H. Johnson School of Communications. Garnering a substantial following as a nail artist and braid stylist, she has created temporary works of art on the heads and hands of women nationwide. Outside of her own practice, Shani teaches art to children at The University of Chicago Summer Lab and works as an art assistant for Chicago artist Hebru Brantley, specializing in gold leaf and glitter application. Shani has shown in two group shows, including Shift: Chicago Artist Collectives at Columbia University. She had her first solo exhibition, HighCoup: Visual Representations of Original Haiku Poetry in August of 2014 at Elee.mosynary gallery.