Black Female Power with Aislinn Finnegan

Northern Irish-Zambian illustrator, Aislinn Finnegan, aims to improve Black representation in art while edifying Black women.

Empowerment, femininity and strength are core themes in her works, all of which are personified in powerful portraits of exaggeratedly dark women who are not afraid to show the world who they are. These are women who take absolute pride in their roots and in the colour of their skin - in fact, the darker the better, contrary to what society in general has defined as beauty. The darkness pops even more as Finnegan uses different daring colours as backgrounds and clothing to further emphasise the power of the black skin.

Finnegan also incorporates African culture in these portraits. From the elaborate and creative afro hairstyles each woman is adorned with (and she really has fun with these hairstyles across her portraits), to small touches like African-inspired jewellery.

See more of Aislinn Finnegan’s illustrations here, and you can buy them too.