Onnissia Harries Talks Art, Sexual Expression & The Creative Process

Photo by Mallory Berry

“So much of our understanding about sexuality in Western culture is packed with shame and guilt, and the only ones who get to be guiltless are men.”

I first met Onnissia at a Kansas City, Missouri gathering of artists and creatives called For Artistic Minds (FAM) where she was on a panel of entrepreneurs, and the way she spoke about her art carried such passion and confidence that I had to introduce myself. 

A few months later, we had a meeting and discussed how we both felt drawn to work together during that introduction, and since then, she has become a client and friend of mine who inspires me to pursue and nurture my most creative self daily. Recently, I participated in The Send Nudes Project, a celebration of sexuality and body positivity in which I sent some nude photos of myself to Onnissia and she turned them into a work of art that makes me feel empowered and badass every time I look at it.

All this to say, this feature has been a long time coming, and I hope you enjoy learning more about the creative powerhouse that is Onnissia Harries.

Onnissia is a provocative visual artist boldly using sexuality and intimacy as an art form. Her boldly styled silhouettes are designed to portray shameless depictions of underrepresented people that are confident in expressing their sexuality and vulnerability. She’s a partner with BlkArthouse and currently represented by The Smalter Gallery in Kansas City, MO. 

How are you feeling right now?

I am feeling at ease because I'm taking a few days for myself. Lately, I've been sleeping, but I haven't been resting. Only the truly tired will understand what that means. It feels good to take it easy and relax.

Your Instagram bio says that you’re an “artist of guiltless sex*pression.” What does that statement mean to you?

Instagram didn’t have enough characters for me to spell out guiltless sexual expression, but I create art about shameless portrayals of figures who are sexually confident, especially women. 

So much of our understanding about sexuality in Western culture is packed with shame and guilt, and the only ones who get to be guiltless are men. For example, I just blocked a guy for sending me an excessive amount of (ugly) dick pics. I mean he literally sent me a dick pic of his junk while sitting over his dirty ass toilet. 

He didn’t have an ounce of remorse. Women are rarely given the space to be so guilt-free. Furthermore, I'm sick of cis-hetero men getting famous for their depiction of women's sexuality when it's so far removed. Their understanding of women's bodies is purely for consumption whereas my process comes from within.

“Art Is My Heart Song.”

Do you remember the first piece of art you ever made?

This is a really intimate question, but I’ll share. I never talk about my dad because he’s a real-life monster in a way that some people can only imagine. It made for a very confusing childhood to see love used as a tool of manipulation. 

Some memories are good and pure though and this is one of them: it was my first assignment in Kindergarten (mind you I had been in Pre-K since I was 2) and every student was assigned a letter of the Alphabet to turn into an art project and bring back in a jar. I was first, so I was assigned the letter "A."  My dad and I decided to make this anatomically correct airplane. It was made out of paper and popsicle sticks. We sat on the floor together in our tiny apartment in LA cutting paper and putting the airplane together. I can still remember being gleeful and full of energy as we worked on it together. It was especially fun because he used to take me to the airport to watch planes take off all the time, so building one together was very cool. 

I can still remember the feeling of triumph when I placed the plane in the jar and the excitement I felt sharing it with class. All of the other kids' stuff looked like junk in comparison. I still feel that same glee when I make art. I get so excited mixing colors in the studio and playing with textures. I still feel extreme pride when sharing my art with other people. Art is my heart song.

Tell us about the Send Nudes Project.

I created TSNP because I was tired of assholes demanding I send nudes. This has been part of my life since the days of MySpace and AIM. I love the idea of taking a nude and enjoying it for yourself, which is something that is becoming more mainstream. I love even more the idea of taking the photo and turning it into art you can hang. It becomes an icon of pride in sexuality and honors body positivity. It's an opportunity to celebrate self-love.

Painting by Onnissia Harries, Courtesy of The Send Nudes Project

How do you get yourself in the headspace to create?

I like to make sure my space is clean and the air is cleansed. I can’t work in a messy or smelly space. It's bad for channeling energy into my art. I think space is reflective of your state of mind and when I create, I want my head to be clear and full of energy that is positive because I consider what I do a form of magic. If I'm going to make magic, I want my mind, body, and spirit in alignment. Some people find that goofy, but picking up a paintbrush is a spiritual ritual every time.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?

If we’re being literal, it’s usually the desire to shower because when I wake up, I’m so sweaty and sticky. I hate the feeling so much. My skin will literally stick to itself and it’s so gross to me. 

But if we’re being figurative, it’s the desire and discipline to take care of myself and my business. Every morning, I go through my ritual of taking care of myself first. I hydrate, clean my apartment, take my vitamins, eat breakfast, make a latte, shower, all of it. And then once I’m done taking care of myself, I switch gears to take care of business. I make a to-do list and head to the studio (or run errands depending on the day) and I don’t stop until I’m done.

“Art is art because sometimes words aren’t enough, and poetry is poetry because it captures experiences we can’t always articulate with visuals.”

You’re both a painter and a poet. Do you feel like those two mediums work in tandem or do you keep them pretty separate?

My voice is the same in both mediums: bold, clear, concise, and to-the-point. But I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to this. I'm firmly in the camp where I think art should speak for itself and poetry should be strong enough to stand alone. 

Some artists are in the practice of blending the two worlds and I've definitely done this a time or two, but I don’t want to have to add visual or literal context to my work like that. Art is art because sometimes words aren’t enough, and poetry is poetry because it captures experiences we can’t always articulate with visuals. Both have their purposes, but that's just my opinion. There are no rules when it comes to creating art, that's what makes it so beautiful.

What’s your favorite piece you’ve ever painted?

My favorite pieces haven’t been shown to the public yet, but they’re fucking beautiful and I can’t wait to share them with everyone at my art show this March.

What’s your favorite poem or poet to read?

I love Nayyirah Waheed, and even though Toni Morrison is known mostly for her novels, she is a poetic writer, her work is so incredibly rich.

What and/or who inspires you most?

Black women. Period.

What is a mantra you have for yourself?

I’m not really a mantra person, but I have “tethers” in my practice to help me center myself and remind me to stay focused and keep moving. Before I leave the studio, I ask myself every day, “did I move the needle?” If the answer is yes, then the day was not wasted. 

What was the biggest lesson you learned in 2020?

This is a hard question because 2020 was not the worst year of my life, which is saying a lot. In 2020, I began to learn to understand my value and the weight of my influence. I've always known that the potential was in me, but last year was when I finally learned to begin tapping into it. I've barely scratched the surface. People saw my skills, my influence, and my talent before I did and profited from it, but now I know better.

What are your top three book recommendations?

This is really hard: 

Parable of the Sower

1984

The Handmaid’s Tale (the TV series is not a substitute)

Honorable Mentions:

Slaughterhouse-Five

Their Eyes Were Watching God

What are your top five small business recommendations?

Cafe Câ Phé

Fetch

Monarch Coffee

Scraps KC

Lysh's Apothecary

And These honorable mentions aren't businesses but they're worth mentioning: KC Tenants Union, Midwest Homeless Collective, and The Merry Outlaw

Any advice for aspiring artists? 

Learn everything you can, but don’t listen to anyone. Make what you want because the art scene is full of bullshit. And lastly, be strategic about your business and your goals if you mean to be an artist full-time. Strategic planning and execution are vital to success.