Meet Nasira Montgomery

We were lucky to catch up with Nasira Montgomery recently and have shared our conversation below.

Nasira, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience comes from the people and the stories that built me. I grew up surrounded by strength — in my family, my culture, my community — but also by people who didn’t always get to be soft or seen. So when life feels heavy, I turn to creating.

Drawing and painting remind me that beauty still exists in us, even when the world feels cold. Every portrait I make — especially of Black and Brown faces — is a quiet way of saying, we’re still here, still beautiful, still becoming.

My art keeps me going because it helps me find peace in the process — it’s proof that even pain can create something worth looking at.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I love collaborating with other artists because creativity feels like its own language — connecting people with different stories but the same passion for expression. Whether I’m working with musicians on album covers, teaming up with photographers and videographers, or just being around other painters and illustrators who get the process, each experience brings new energy and perspective.

Through my art, I want people to feel seen — to recognize their own beauty, complexity, and resilience. Especially within Black and Brown communities, I aim to create work that reflects our light, even when life feels heavy. My goal is simple: to make pieces that remind us that beauty has always existed within us, and sometimes all it takes is a different lens to truly see it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The three things that shaped my journey most are self-awareness, patience, and connection.

Self-awareness taught me to trust my own vision — to create from what’s real to me, not from what’s trending. It’s what keeps my work authentic and meaningful.
Patience reminded me that growth takes time. Every piece, every mistake, every pause has its purpose. You can’t rush becoming who you’re meant to be.
And connection — both with myself and with others — showed me that creativity isn’t meant to live in isolation. Collaborating, learning from other artists, and sharing space with people who inspire me helped me evolve in ways I couldn’t have alone.

For anyone early in their journey, I’d say learn yourself first, don’t compare your timing to anyone else’s, and surround yourself with people who feed your creativity, not your doubt.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

My biggest area of growth this past year has been learning to slow down and trust my timing. I used to feel like I had to constantly create or prove myself to stay relevant, but I’ve realized that real growth happens in the quiet moments too.

I’ve learned to give myself grace — to rest, to reflect, and to create from a place of peace instead of pressure. That shift has changed everything about how I move as an artist and as a person. My work feels more intentional now, and so do I.

I’m proud of the way I’ve learned to honor my process and protect my peace. It’s taught me that consistency doesn’t always mean speed — sometimes it’s about alignment, patience, and trusting that what’s meant for you won’t miss you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tiktok.com/@nasirasartgallery?_t=8prWZpp3eP8&_r=1
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nasirasartgallery?igsh=MWc3bTIzNHNsOWFhcw==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@nasirasartgallery?si=js2MZzt4U4zNybi7
• Other: https://voyageohio.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-nasira-montgomery-of-cleveland