Meet Shenna Vaughn

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shenna Vaughn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shenna , appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I believe my resilience comes from my desire to make a difference and share my unique gifts as an artist and curator especially when faced with adversity .My driving force is my strength, and determination. It was heartbreaking in middle school when I received push back on a project I created with labor of love and creativity just to be told there is no way I could have possibly created that. The push back continued in highschool where my teacher told me that if I couldn’t draw people, that there is no way that could be an artist. Art has always been my life line and has helped me be persistent and continue to push through.

I also believe in the importance and power to have role models. I didn’t see artist that looked like me. I am not just pushing through for myself but also for the other little brown and black girls. Showing them that they can create and belong in the art world.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My journey as a visual artist, educator, curator, and business owner has been shaped by a deep desire to create opportunities and build a community that I once longed for. Growing up, I often sought to connect with other artists and organizations, but I was met with resistance — whether it was people telling me that should already know, or withholding information, or treating me as competition, even when we weren’t creating the same work. The art world felt isolating, and I quickly learned how difficult it is to navigate it without the right support.

That experience ignited something in me. Instead of allowing myself to be discouraged, I decided to take a different approach. I knew that as I made connections and created opportunities for myself, I would also bring others along. This led me to co-found Vaughn Bentley Creative with my partner in paint, William Bentley. Our creative hub and collective is dedicated to providing art opportunities not just for us, but for local artists in unconventional spaces — spaces that offer not just visibility, but stipends to support their work.

Through Vaughn Bentley Creative, we’ve partnered with incredible local businesses and corporations like JFK Airport, Department of Transportation (DOT), and Resorts World, all to elevate and share the work of local artists. I’ve also had the privilege of working with Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning (JCAL) on several projects. Currently, I curated an exhibition titled “Free Your Mind the Expansion,” which features 16 phenomenal artists, a project that continues to remind me of the importance of collaboration and giving space for other Artists to shine.

In addition to this, I’m currently in residency with Art on the Ave, where I have the studio space to continue developing my own work. The more I grow, the more I realize how vital it is to create spaces that weren’t there when I started — spaces where artists of all backgrounds feel seen, supported, and valued. Through Vaughn Bentley Creative and my ongoing work as an artist, I am committed to being the change I once needed, and to helping other artists succeed, just as I have.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back on my journey, the three qualities that have shaped my path and helped me the most are persistence, building relationships, and showing up. Persistence has been my driving force. Through every challenge, rejection, and setback, I’ve learned to keep moving forward. There were countless moments where things felt stagnant or difficult, but my commitment to my vision pushed me to continue, to keep fighting for what I believe in, and to never give up on my art or my mission.
Building relationships has been just as crucial.

The art world can feel isolating, but I’ve come to realize that the most meaningful growth happens when we connect with others. By surrounding myself with artists, mentors, and collaborators who share similar passions and values, I’ve been able to create a supportive network that has opened doors, offered guidance, and shown me that we rise by lifting each other. These relationships have played a huge role in both my personal growth and in the success of the collective I’ve built with my business partner, William Bentley, through Vaughn Bentley Creative.

Finally, showing up has been essential in every part of my journey. Whether it’s in the studio, at an exhibition, or at a meeting, being present and committed to the process has led to opportunities that I couldn’t have predicted. It’s not always easy, but every time I show up, even when I don’t feel like it, I’m reminded of how much progress happens simply by taking action.
Together, persistence, relationships, and showing up have been the foundation of my work and have allowed me to create a space for myself and for others. They are the qualities that continue to drive me as I work to make a difference and help lift up the voices of those who have been overlooked or underrepresented.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

There are several books that have had a profound impact on me, offering valuable insights and transformative nuggets along the way. The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer taught me the power of surrendering control and allowing life to unfold in its own timing. It reminded me to trust the process, even when I can’t see the full picture. The idea of letting go of resistance and allowing things to flow has been a cornerstone of my growth, both personally and professionally.
A Course in Miracles by Helen Schucman has been equally transformative. Its teachings on forgiveness, love, and the power of our thoughts have reshaped how I approach challenges and relationships. It’s a reminder that much of what holds us back is internal, and by shifting our mindset, we can create new possibilities in our lives.
Iyanla Vanzant’s books and meditations have also been a constant source of inspiration. Her wisdom on healing, self-empowerment, and embracing one’s truth has guided me through many difficult moments. Her words help ground me, offering a sense of clarity and peace as I continue to navigate my own journey.
Each of these books has contributed to my understanding of myself, my purpose, and my place in the world. They’ve given me the tools to keep going, to trust, to forgive, and to show up as my authentic self.

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