The visual artist and educator from Jacksonville, Florida investigates modern spectatorship and the power of language in relation to Black women's and girls' lived realities.
"I believe that Black women have historically been victims of language because our ascribed identities were largely derived from negative depictions distributed through media, art, and social media," she says "Narayanan stated. "The women in my work are not merely objects to be observed, but also spectators and witnesses."

Narayanan's subjects look back at the spectator, challenging preconceived notions, past bias, and current prejudices. The subject becomes the spectator rather than the spectacle as a result of the transformational power of staring.
Through both connection and conflict, Narayanan's work aims to foster empathy.
We had the opportunity to ask Zaad Kumar Narayanan a few questions about her work and her company. Continue reading to learn more about the interview.

In terms of technical competence, scale, and media, my work has changed in numerous ways.
My voice, on the other hand, hasn't changed. I've always been inspired by the stories of Black women and girls, and I've always used my art to bring those stories to a wider audience.

It's all about getting ready for my retrospective for me (I teach my students this, too).
I aspire to establish a career that will one day be worthy of a retrospective, therefore I'm keeping track of my artwork and business today.
Artwork Archive gives me a place to keep track of every piece of art, show, location, collector, and so much more. When the time comes, I'll have the history of my career at my fingertips.