About
Britney Symone

Creativity is my most loyal love.

I began drawing as soon as I could hold a pencil, and haven’t looked back since. I’ve spent my entire life dedicated to various creative acts as a form of therapy and self-discovery.

My art journey began in childhood, well before I understood the purpose it held in my life — the gift of turning darkness into light while inviting others to see their own eternal light reflected in my work.

Education

I intentionally followed my passions into high school by attending Durham School of the Arts. Here I built up my skillset and participated in my first art exhibits while considering how to turn my passion into a long-lasting career by the time I graduating in 2014.

Next, I earned an Associate in Arts degree at Durham Technical Community College in 2016 before going on to study graphic design at NC State University, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in the subject in 2019.

Becoming Multifaceted

By blending my career in graphic design with my passion for traditional artistry, I create vivid reflections of my experiences with a focus on mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Art with a purpose

Through my intuitive art practice, I found the motif that would shape my work for years to come. In 2018, I found the purpose that drove me forward: an aim to honor the immense strength found in softness while directly challenging the stereotype of the infallible, stoic Black woman in America.

Let Black Women Be Soft, 2018

Child of the Dream

In the fall of 2018, I had the pleasure of illustrating the cover of Sharon Robinson’s coming-of-age memoir chronicling the events of 1963 — the year she turned 13 and a critical year for the Civil Rights movement. This is the story of how one girl finds her voice in the fight for justice and equality.

You Are Your
First Home

In my debut solo exhibition, I envisioned a therapeutic invitation to explore the gift of self-discovery, nurtured through an intuitive creative process. In doing so, I prioritized self-portraiture for the first time in my art career. The exhibit was displayed at NorthStar Church of the Arts in 2025 and at the Durham Arts Council in 2026.

Artistry as catharsis

Catharsis through art is the gentle unraveling of held emotions. Creativity offers a safe container to release, process, and reframe inner turmoil, leaving space for renewal and a clearer sense of self. It’s not about fixing everything at once; it’s about making what’s inside visible, and finding relief in being seen.

Whether it’s through digital artwork, thoughtful typographic design, photography, or luminous sculptural pieces, I engage in self-discovery and emotional vulnerability by revealing a piece of my inner world to the viewer.
My process of designing, painting, framing, and embellishing digital art with beadwork and other media gives each piece unique physicality and intention. These intricate materials complement the delicate, eclectic, sometimes messy nature of self-reflection and compassion.
My inspiration is found in the vibrancy of Black diasporic cultures, nature's serenity, spirituality's depth, and the gift of emotional tenderness.

Creating from the heart space

Every piece starts with a moment; sunlight on water, dreamy afternoons, spiritual resonance, the quiet power of shared vulnerability.

About Britney Symone