interview by JANA LETONJA

Artist, stylist, designer, and gallerist Brittany Byrd is known for her vivid and boundary-pushing art. She first gained recognition in the music industry in the early 2010s and has since built a distinct identity as an influential figure in art, fashion, and design. Brittany has also founded Byrd Museum in Los Angeles, an artist incubator and community-oriented event space that serves as a safe haven for like-minded creatives.

Your work often explores themes like identity, transformation, and resilience. Can you share how these themes are influenced by your personal experiences?

Identity, transformation, and resilience are deeply woven into the fabric of my personal journey. My work often mirrors the moments when I’ve had to confront, question, and redefine who I am. Identity becomes a canvas where I explore the layers of selfhood—what is given, what is chosen, and what is discovered. Transformation is a constant thread, born from the challenges and changes that shape us. Each shift, whether painful or profound, offers a lesson that finds its way into my creative expression. Resilience is perhaps the most personal theme, as it reflects the strength I’ve had to cultivate in the face of life’s unpredictability. It’s about finding beauty in the fractures and building something whole from what was once broken.

These themes are not just concepts, they are lived experiences that flow through my work, allowing me to connect with others on a deeply human level.

Can you walk us through the evolution of your creative process, from the initial idea to the final piece?

Honestly, I’m still walking myself through the evolution of my creative process. Everything starts with a cup of matcha, pencil and paper. In the past, I would overthink the whole thing. My authenticity is my superpower, trusting that I find flow. Flow could lead to a cement brutalist lounge chair, flow could lead me to canvas, instillation art, and of course fashion, but most importantly human connection.

I am very analog, everything for me starts with a pencil and paper. I’ll usually write out my initial feelings about a project. I’m still learning to fall in love with the process. The process is the most important part. For me, the process is as important as the final product. It’s about staying open, being present, and trusting that the idea will find its way to where it’s meant to be.

As an artist and a gallerist, how do you balance creating your own work with fostering a platform for other creatives?

Balancing my roles as an artist and a gallerist requires intentionality and a clear vision. As an artist, I prioritise staying true to my creative voice and carving out dedicated time to produce work that reflects my personal journey. As a gallerist, I’m equally passionate about creating a space where other artists can thrive and have their voices amplified.

To balance both, I treat them as complementary rather than competing roles. My experiences as an artist deepen my understanding of the challenges other creatives face, while curating and supporting their work often inspires new perspectives in my own practice. Time management is essential. I dedicate specific hours to my studio work and set separate times for gallery operations and artist collaborations.

Ultimately, I see both roles as part of the same mission, to foster creativity and build meaningful connections between art, artists, and audiences.

What role does African American culture play in shaping your art? Are there particular traditions or stories that resonate strongly in your work?

It’s everything to me. To be young, gifted and black.

My style, my gold teeth, the way I cook, all of these are living extensions of my family’s culture from New Orleans. They are not just choices, they are inherited symbols of identity, pride, and connection to a lineage steeped in rich tradition. I feel like at times the African American culture doesn’t get glorified enough. A lot of media tends to lean toward white assimilation, especially in societal beauty standards.

To the young black artist that may read this: your nose is just right, your lips are perfect and your hair texture is beautiful. Take pride in that and stand in your power.

My approach to human design and personal style have always been about expression, storytelling, and standing out while staying rooted. My gold teeth and face tattoos reflect that legacy—bold, unapologetic, and deeply tied to a history of turning adversity into art.Through these choices, I honour where I come from. The culture taught me to mix the raw with the refined, to celebrate individuality, and to wear my culture as both shield and crown.

skirt GUVANCH NYC
belt BABY PHAT via Gabriel Held Vintage
top, fur scarf, necklace, gloves and shoes all vintage via Gabriel Held Vintage

The Byrd Museum has been described as a safe haven for creatives. What inspired you to create this space, and what is your long-term vision for it?

My vision for the Byrd Museum is to disrupt traditional art world norms by fostering a community rooted in service and collaboration. I aim to cultivate a sanctuary where diverse voices are celebrated, and creativity thrives without boundaries.

Looking ahead, I aspire for the Byrd Museum to be a beacon of inclusivity and innovation, continually evolving to meet the needs of the creative community. By providing resources, mentorship, and a platform for underrepresented artists, I hope to inspire a new generation to challenge conventions and redefine the cultural landscape.

How do you view the role of art in community building and activism, particularly in LA and NYC?

Art is everything when it comes to building up the people and speaking on what’s real, especially in cities like LA and NYC. It’s like a mirror, reflecting the struggles, the victories, the pain, and the love in the community. I view the role as moving with love. I can’t help but to be creative and to share my perspective and come together to collaborate.

In LA, it’s the murals in the neighbourhoods, the music in the streets how we tell our story, how we say “We’re here, we matter.” In New York, it’s the same energy, just a different beat. You got the language, streetstyle, subcultures, the abrasive rawness that speaks for the voiceless. Art is activism because it makes people feel something. It shakes things up, challenges the status quo, and reminds us what we’re fighting for. It’s how we connect, how we push forward, and how we keep the culture alive. Without art, there’s no movement. It’s the heartbeat of change.

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You also gained recognition in the music industry, besides branching into art and fashion. How has this journey influenced your career and creative outlook?

I’ve been drawn to fashion and art for as long as I can remember. Even as a child, I saw creative expression as a way to make meaningful change. In 5th grade, I organized a meeting at my elementary school to address the lack of diversity in our school logo. I sketched a new design and submitted it to LAUSD, and to this day, Crescent Heights Elementary still uses that logo, a fact I discovered years later when picking up my nephew from school.

Fashion has always been more than just style for me. It’s a love language I inherited from my mother. This connection to clothing and self-expression was there long before I ever entered the music world. When I started working as a creative director in music, I was also attending The New School: Parsons School of Design, merging my passion for storytelling, design, and culture into one evolving vision.

Overall, gaining recognition in the music industry influenced my creative outlook by learning to protect my intellectual property and my energy. As far as creative outlook, my experiences in music showed me the weight that my creativity holds.

Representation matters in creative spaces. How do you navigate and challenge the lack of diversity in art and fashion?

Representation in creative spaces is everything because it’s about making sure the world reflects all of us, not just one perspective. For me, I navigate it by being unapologetically myself and showing up in spaces where people might not expect me. It’s about proving that you don’t have to fit into a box to create something meaningful.

I challenge the lack of diversity by simply existing in these spaces and doing what I do at the highest level. I don’t wait for permission or validation, I build my own table. Whether it’s music, art, or fashion, I make what feels authentic to me, and in doing that, I show others that they can do it too.

I also believe in showing, not just telling, what’s possible. I’ll bring the people I believe in along with me, giving them opportunities where I can. The goal is to create a ripple effect, where more doors open for people who look like me, think like me, or come from where I come from. At the end of the day, it’s about doing the work and being undeniable. When you create from a real place, people feel it, and it changes the conversation without you even having to say a word.

shorts AREA via Gabriel Held Vintage
shoes ALEXANDER WANG
top and belt vintage via Gabriel Held Vintage

Your signature style is bold and boundary-pushing. How do you approach fashion as a medium for self-expression and storytelling?

Fashion, for me, is a language, one that speaks without words and carries layers of meaning. It’s a medium where self-expression meets storytelling, and every piece becomes part of a narrative. My approach is rooted in intention, I see clothing as a way to communicate identity, history, and even rebellion.

Boldness is essential because it disrupts the ordinary. It forces a conversation. Whether it’s through unexpected silhouettes, textures, or details, I’m always pushing boundaries to challenge norms and invite people to see things differently.

Storytelling comes naturally in fashion because what you wear is often the first thing the world notices about you. I design and style with that in mind, using fashion to tell stories about culture, resilience, and individuality. Each choice, whether it’s a gold tooth, a specific fabric, or a silhouette, carries significance, a thread connecting the personal to the universal.

Ultimately, fashion isn’t just about what you wear, it’s about how you claim space and tell your truth. My style is an invitation to think deeper, to question, and to celebrate the power of self-expression.

What can you share with us about your upcoming projects and collaborations? Is there one that you’re especially excited about?

I’m really excited about tomorrow because it’s a new day.

TEAM CREDITS:
talent BRITTANY BYRD
photography LUKE STAGE
styling AK'AI LITTLE JOHN
makeup SOPHIE HARTNETT
creative consultant IKENNA STOVALL
personal assistant THALIA ROMANOS
interview JANA LETONJA

IN CONVERSATION WITH BRITTANY BYRD

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