ABOUT ME

At an early age Amina Lei was inspired by the rawness of hip hop, reflecting her passion for storytelling and truth-telling through art. As a 2nd generation Chinese American born and raised in the Bay Area, Amina is a product of community and cultural intersections. She picked up her first paintbrush at the age of 3, guided by her first art teacher - her grandmother. Amina's childhood represented the complexity and beauty of growing up in the diverse culture of the Bay. She was raised simultaneously in the crowded and historical streets of San Francisco Chinatown and the hardened neighborhoods of Richmond, CA. Her identity was shaped by her ability to pick up her pens and paintbrushes in order to express her growing pains through art and words. As a child, a teenager and an adult, this always fueled her evolution as a woman. It was the revolutionary spirit of Oakland, CA that shaped Amina's social justice and feminist thinking.

Her passion lies in her easel where she is met with the continuous opportunity to tell a story. Culture, history, and the eternal struggle for social justice are inspirations of her work and reflects not only a personal creative journey but also represents the social, political and cultural realities of people of color, both contemporary and historical. Amina’s art has always been about getting people to rethink the injustices in the world, but more importantly to empower individuals to believe that they can do something powerful with their lives.

Utilizing her artistic skills, Amina works with diverse companies and retailers specializing in brand actions and PR events. She also works with education consultancy firms and organizations that collaborates with schools to create workshops that integrate art and history. When Amina is not teaching art, she is illustrating children’s book.

Today, Amina's art reflects the challenges and triumphs of rising against the odds - both self-imposed and socially-imposed. Her paintings are a meditation on courage, as this is the theme of the creative growth and evolution of Amina as an artist. Courage not only allowed her to survive but it also allows her to lead a life that is reflective and truthful of her personal journey. As an artist, Amina strives to be just that - courageous and honest.