We all decorate our homes with different art and visuals that are specific to our travels and experiences. And, if you’re anything like me, you love seeing what kinds of art people collect. This blog gives you a sneak peek at What’s On Your Walls.

Fellow Creative Ambassador, radio personality and celebrity media coach Dyana Williams’ art collection is something serious. Dyana doesn't just have art on her walls; she has an entire art collection hanging on her walls.

Her home is adorned with traces of her travels and stories of her history. I went to Dyana’s house with fellow Insider Laiya St. Clair to chat and get footage of her art; however, what I got was so much more than that. I got an art lesson by a great collector. She walked us around and told stories of her collection piece by piece. The pieces I chose showcase a diverse view of what’s on her walls - from fellow Philadelphia native Andrew Turner to her very own daughter.

Here is just a glimpse into her collection. I also sat down with her for a Q&A. Check it out below.

Q&A

I've been a long time admirer of you and your journey. Can you tell everyone what you do?

Who is Dyana Williams? A passionate Afro-Rican woman, daughter, mother of three, relative, friend and citizen of planet Earth who loves the Creator and lives life to its fullest. I am present in each moment! I truly enjoy the various endeavors that I engage in.

As a broadcaster, I am currently on the air at 100.3 WRNB-FM, Radio One Philadelphia, where co-host, Soulful Sunday (10am to 3pm) with Derrick Sampson. I have been a guest commentator for TV One’s critically acclaimed NAACP Image Award winning series, Unsung and co-executive produced the Teddy Pendergrass episode. Via my company, Influence Entertainment, I am a celebrity strategist who works with high profile individuals to assist them with their public personas, development and achieving their full potential. I write a monthly column called Insights & Empowerment for Frequency Magazine and finally, I am a dedicated music advocate, having founded the International Association of African-American Music Foundation, a Pennsylvania based non-profit music advocacy organization.

You've recently been named a 2012 Philly 360 Creative Ambassador. Congrats! Can you tell us what that means to you?

I’m a native New Yorker, who was raised in the Bronx and Harlem; however, I have lived in Philly for many years. While I own where I was born and raised, I have come to truly love Philadelphia - with its diverse people, unique communities and definitive cultural landscape.

It is a distinct honor to have been named a Creative Ambassador for Philly 360 in my adopted hometown. I appreciate the great job Patricia Washington, Kyleen Shaw and Sarah Janiszewski of the GPTMC (Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Philly 360) are engaged in. Thrilled and very proud to be part of the new vanguard of ambassadors reppin’ for our grand cultural mecca! Years ago when I was on the air at WDAS, I coined the phrase, City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection. It is now a widely used term to describe what has become my home sweet home. As an official Creative Ambassador now, I plan to continue my mission to let the world to know what a spectacular place Philly is!

You have a beautiful, extensive original art collection. What made you want to collect and which piece is your favorite?

As long as I can recall, I’ve always had an affinity for art. I started collecting when I was 15 with an original painting from Gabriel DaSilva. I remember the incredible impression left upon me after seeing the photographic exhibition, Harlem On My Mind as a teenager. In particular, the images of James Van Der Zee, and Gordon Parks (who many years later would become a dear friend) spurred my interest in art.

The late collector Paul Jones, taught me a great deal about art, as has Mercer Redcross, owner of the October Galley (from whom I have purchased many pieces), as well as Beverly Dawson and Pam Brown at ArtJaz. Over the years, I have become friends with some gifted artists - whose work I proudly own such as, Verna Hart, Leroy Campbell, Richard Watson, quilter Cindy Cephas and Amalia Amaki, who created one of my favorite treasures Bessie Box.

While my collection is spread amongst my homes in Penn Valley, Philly and New Orleans, I still have a desire to add. I especially support Philly artist’s work, and have Ellen Powell Tiberino, James Dupree, Andrew Turner, Sam Byrd and Whitney Thomas in my collection. I just picked up a fabulous Jimi Hendrix piece by Mark Gaines and am looking for a special Stacey Wilson!

How does Philadelphia inspire you and what you do?

Philadelphia has incredible, breathtakingly beautiful murals all over. In fact, Philly has the distinction of having more public art than any other city in the United States. I am supremely inspired when I see the remarkable works of art throughout our region.

Where can people learn more about you? (Besides here.)

A dear friend of mine recently told me that they checked me out on the internet and said that I am very Googlable - influencentertainment.com and rnbphilly.com.

When I decided to write a blog on art for Black History Month, I immediately thought of all the talented current artists I know just in Philly - like fellow Creative Ambassadors Rah Crawford  and Serena Saunders, Willis Nomo, Joshua Mays, Taqiy Muhammad, Lillian Cotton and Cathey White, just to name a few.

However, I felt like I needed to go back and dig deeper into Philly's past artists - such as Barkley Hendricks, Ellen Powell Tiberino and Richard Watson. (Check out the video at the end of the post.)

I still wanted to dig a littler deeper and go even further into Philly's art past. So, I came across  quite a few artists and narrowed it down to my favorite five. 

Romare Bearden

1911 – 1988

Bearden, who is a favorite of mine, is known for his collages and montages filled with metaphors of his past. They are funky and odd, but so magical. He had many jobs over the years, including being an editorial cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American. He was also known as a respected writer and an eloquent spokesman on artistic and social issues of the day.

Insider facts: His work has appeared on the covers of Fortune and Time magazines. He also designed costumes for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.

Horace Pippin

1888 – 1946

Pippin was called a folk artist, because he had no formal art training. His work was quite graphic, as he did not use any shading in his pieces. Pippin's work appeals to me. His use of bold color was something that drew me in. He is from West Chester and went to art classes at the Barnes Foundation. He also has a piece of art hanging in The Philadelphia Museum of Art. 

Insider fact: He completed his first painting when he was 43 years old. 

Allan Randall Freelon 

1895-1960

Freelon has an impressive resume when it comes to his studies. He had a full scholarship to Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art (now the University of the Arts), also studied at University of Pennsylvania, The Barnes Foundation and Tyler School of Art. His work is made up of landscapes, nudes and still-lifes using mostly conte crayon, etching, oil and charcoal. 

Insider fact: In 1921, Freelon was accepted as the first African American member of the Philadelphia Print Club. During the same year, he also became the first African American to supervise all art instruction in the Philadelphia public school system, a position occupied primarily by white Americans at that particular time.

Dox Thrash

1893–1965

Thrash had dreams of being an artist. After working random jobs, he came to Philadelphia. While working as janitor, he continued to create art. He was later recognized as a master printmaker. His work depicted African American strength and other positive attributes as well as struggles and challenges in his prints. In his later years, he mentored young creative minds with their craft. 

Insider fact: He invented the process of Carborundum Mezzotint, a printmaking technique.

Henry Ossawa Tanner 

1874-1946

Tanner is also another artist who I’m fond of. His earlier work is known for more portrait art, while in his later years, he took a more religious approach. His pieces draw you in with his balance of colors, lights and shadows. He struggled with racism in the city and his lack of acceptance. So, in search of being accepted,  he moved to France and remained there for the rest of his years.

Insider fact: On a short return visit to the US in 1893, Tanner painted his most famous work, The Banjo Lesson, in Philadelphia.

Insider tip: If you didn’t know, PAFA is hosting a Henry Ossawa Tanner exhibit until April 15, 2012. During the run of the exhibition, visitors can enjoy evening hours on Wednesdays (10 am - 8 pm) and free admission on Sundays.

Zoe Strauss: Ten Years

January 14 - April 22, 2012

Philadelphia Museum of Art

26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway

I remember DJ Cosmo Baker mentioning about six months ago that his sister would be exhibiting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I thought that was really cool considering it’s not every day that artists you know exhibit at a place like the Philadelphia Museum of Art. But, this isn’t just any artist either. Photographer Zoe Strauss, who is the founder of Philadelphia Public Art Project, Whitney Biennial participant and published photographer, will be exhibiting 150 of her compelling pieces of photography that have been taken over the past decade. The exhibit will also include slideshows showinging more of her imagery.

Zoe says that her ambition is “to create an epic narrative that reflects the beauty and struggle of everyday life.” And that she does. From 2001-2010, she would host exhibits under the abandoned urban zone under I-95. She sold and signed her work for $5.  Her portraits are gritty and real, and they depict the struggles of everyday people and places in our city.

To accompany the exhibit, she is also displaying her work on billboards across the city to further tell her story and to extend the exhibit beyond the Museum. She says, “The billboards will exhibit photos without text, branding or logos. They effectively eliminate 53 spaces available for commercial advertising.”

I’m personally excited to see the progress and journey of another fellow artist who has had great success with her craft. I can’t wait to see the exhibit and experience our city through her eyes. Hopefully you’ll find some time to check it out too!

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to look out for her work on billboards across the city. You can find the originals and the accompanying billboard here - Billboards.

I caught up with fellow Philly 360° Creative Ambassador and visual artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh. If you’re unfamiliar with Tatyana, she is an incredibly talented visual artist who transforms the canvas into realistic renditions of people covering everything—from music artists like Erykah Badu to telling stories of the struggles and issues in our country and the world.

I posed 20 questions to her for us to find out what she is currently working on and to also dig a little deeper to get to know her more. Find out her guilty pleasure, her current projects, where she shops for paint and more. 

Insider tip: If you get a chance, check out her time-lapsed videos of her painting.

Q+A

Flygirrl: What are you currently working on?

Tatyana: I recently finished a painting series called Get Angry. It's about the protest movements that have happened around the world in 2011. You can check it out here. Now, I'm working on putting together an exhibition for Get Angry, while also working on a new series of portraits. 

Flygirrl: What’s your favorite kind of paint?

Tatyana: I work with oil paint. The brand doesn't matter as long as the paint is rich and oily. Lately, I've been on a gold acrylic kick. Inspired by Gustav Klimt, the background for a lot of my recent paintings has been a flat gold. 

Flygirrl: If you didn't paint, what other career would you like to pursue?

Tatyana: If I weren't a painter, I probably would have picked up some other artistic activity like acting or dance. I think there's a performer somewhere inside of me, and I would explore that more if I weren't a painter.

Flygirrl: Who is your favorite Philadelphia visual artist?

Tatyana: One of my favorite Philly artist is Joshua Mays. He's a really fantastic painter. 

Flygirrl: What art store do you frequent most?

Tatyana:

I go to Dick Blick. It's a huge store so they usually have whatever I need.

Flygirrl: What is your last completed piece of art?

Tatyana: I just finished a portrait of Questlove. I sometimes make videos of myself creating a painting from beginning to end. Chris Conway and I just made a video of me doing this Quest piece.

Flygirrl: Who is your favorite DJs?

Tatyana: Jazzy Jeff and Rich Medina, definitely.

Flygirrl: What is the last party that you went to?

Tatyana: The last party I went to was The Bounce. It's by far my favorite party in Philly.

Flygirrl: What are the last 3 songs played on your iPod?

Tatyana: Bjork "Amphibian", Big K.R.I.T. "Made Alot", Jose James "Love Conversation".

Flygirrl: What is the last album that you bought?

Tatyana: I still buy CDs. The last album I bought was Prince's Around The World In A Day. As for new music, I've been listening to a lot of stuff lately just by streaming it online while I work. 

Flygirrl: Where are you from?

Tatyana: I'm originally from Oklahoma City, OK. I'm half Iranian. My dad was from Tehran, Iran - that's where the last name comes from.

Flygirrl: What is your favorite part of town in Philly?

Tatyana: I like my neighborhood a lot. I'm in South Philly, around Passyunk. 

Flygirrl: What restaurant did you last eat at?

Tatyana: I had brunch at Green Eggs Cafe around the corner from my house. They have red velvet pancakes. Red velvet pancakes! 

Flygirrl: What’s your guilty pleasure?

Tatyana: Basketball Wives.

Flygirrl: What is your favorite website to visit?

Tatyana: Visit Netflix and TED a lot. 

Flygirrl: What is your proudest accomplishment?

Tatyana: I've had some really cool moments. It's great to have people who's work you admire and respect feel the same way about your work. I feel like some of my favorite "accomplishments" have simply been recognition from some of my favorite musical and visual artists. A nice accomplishment in 2011 though, was a commission from the Oklahoma State Supreme Court. It was a huge painting, and I'm from Oklahoma, so it's pretty dope to have a painting that will be on display in such a distinguished space for years to come.

Flygirrl: Where can we find your work?

Tatyana: You can find my work on my site tlynnfaz.com. You can find me on Twitter and Tumblr.

Serena Saunders is a visual artist and clothing designer. We first crossed paths a few years back through a vending opportunity at one of my events, and I have been a fan ever since.

Her work is big, bold, beautiful, abstract and colorful. She uses a lot of words in her pieces, telling stories within stories within layers of paint. She also does incredible leatherwork. She makes the most amazing clutches, suspenders, waist pouches and everything in between.

And, she’s also socially conscious, giving her time to AIDS foundations, community projects and working with the youth. Check out this awesome artist.

Insider Tip: If you like what you see, you should catch her work in person. Seeing her pieces first hand—especially her fashion designs—are a totally different experience than seeing them online.

Q + A With Serena

Stacey: Please tell the folks what you do and why you do it.

Serena: I am a painter, teacher, poet and entrepreneur. In the past year, I've added fashion designer to my portfolio. After launching a handbag line, "The HoldMe Collection" in 2009, I realized that fashion is another avenue of artistic expression that I am very drawn to. The reason why I create—the cheesy answer is, I was born to. In reality, it is when I am at my best. And, I have learned through experience of working within the community, that my art is not only a luxury item but a necessity. 

Stacey: What are you artistically best known for?

Serena: As an artist I am best known for my bold use of color. The relationship of colors and how they impact one another keeps my impression fresh and strong. Color play has since grown into the layering of prints (that I create from scratch) and text. I believe the ability to push my work as far as it goes through color and composition—without making a mess—makes my work successful. 

Stacey: What you're biggest artistic accomplishment?

Serena: Working for myself for the past 7 years. Not many artists can say that. Starving or full, this is what I do everyday, all day.

Stacey: Where can people find you?

Serena: At the moment, the best way people can find me is at www.serenasart.com and my etsy.com shop. However, I want nothing more than to be able to establish a pop-up shop, retail or trunk show style opportunity, including but not limited to in-home art trunk shows. (Hint-hint to those of you reading). 

Most people know her as a dope photographer, but she's really a Jane of all trades. She was a dancer in the Philadelphia female dance group Montazh (created by Michele Byrd McPhee). They were everywhere and killing every show.

The first time I saw Jonene taking photos was at a BBoy BBQ.  Now, you can catch her on stage at shows like Rock The Bells--or gathering every DJ in the city for a historical moment on film. As a photographer, she’s known for her beautifully contrasted black and white photography.

Below she tells you a bit about herself, but she definitely left out her most current accomplishment–having her work sold in stores and online at Urban Outfitters. Check her out.

Stacey: Please tell the folks what you do and why you do it.

Jonene: I take photos of anything that catches my eye. Things mostly that center around the culture of hip hop--MCs, bboys/bgirls, graffiti and DJs. I really love shooting anything that helps to make up those elements as well--sneakers, records, a marker, a microphone, a beat machine, spray cans, keyboards, a record needle, etc. I don't even have a flat out answer as to why I shoot what I do. It's just what I see. I guess it's because I love the culture. I hate sounding cliche. I think that the entire culture has a passion behind it, and I like to not only capture the culture, but the intricate things that make up those elements that make up the entire culture. I like to capture moments that no one else would think of capturing. I never have an intention when I shoot things. I just shoot.

Stacey: What are you artistically best known for?

Jonene: No clue. Some would say Philly DJ Day. Some would say the graffiti. Some might say the MCs or famous people. Some would say I'm one of the only girls in Philly that shoot what and how I do so by default I'm 'known.' There's also the element of my personality. Someone told me the other day that I have a 'prickly personality.' I think it comes out in my photos.

Stacey: What you're biggest artistic accomplishment?

Jonene: Definitely Philly DJ Day. My only intention was to take a picture. I ended up making history within the Philly DJ community. I made them happy and will always be extremely grateful for that. 

Stacey: Where can people find you?

Jonene:  On Flickr. On Tumblr. On Urban Outfitters.