A fear of vulnerability blinds the community from seeing a soul’s sorrows and drowns out their screams with the silent tears of the victim. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Airing Blunts Outta Portals.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

I am every woman, man, and human who owes no one gender expression. This portrait represents any and everyone. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “All In Me.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

I painted this when I returned home and visited my friends' apartment in Philly while we all laughed, reminisced, and looked toward our futures. A Pink Floyd poster hanging on their apartment wall showing women in different poses where they wore varying album covers by the band made me appreciate remaining in sisterhood with women who all blossomed, broadcasting their own array of colors boldly even during trying times. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Kiss My Black Ass.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

They want me to shuck and jive for respect but them shoes can burn as the country falls next.

The pressure for Black people to conform coincides with societal expectations enabling the portrayals of stereotypical archetypes and ignoring historic mistreatment of Black people in society. I refuse to perform inauthenticity. I'll dance to my own rhythm on the grave of this country until it transforms into ashes.

Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Personality Hire.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

Movement restores balance. Resuscitate your spirit by breathing life into your body. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Pour Your Heart Out To Fill It Back Up.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

Don’t let me decompose into buried bones burdening the land we bore into fruition and built on our backs. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Resisting Silence.” The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) movement amplifies the statistics reflecting Indigenous Women’s vulnerability towards facing higher fatality and violence rates. Do not let the innocence and lives lost be erased. Watermark removed on purchased prints.

I see you sister 𓁺. Find our femmes before they become fatalities! Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Solidarity.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

Temporary Human

mindscape of: talia j. veney

Written: May 3, 2021

Goosebumps budded along the

Shea butter slicked legs facilitating the curling pair of toes 

Focused on developing a connection that expands no farther than the moment

I fall deep in love with my temporary human

As their body heat reminds me of a warm August morning on the beach as the sun steadily breathes down one's neck 

And the wind whispers careless pillow talk against their skin

While they beg to feel the ocean spray release onto their face as they encourage the waves to build up and the undertow to take them away until they can no longer walk straight

Each stroke swimming in the water reminding the sinner to stay afloat and

Indulge upon their greatest desires as this signified their vacation

And no matter how long it lasted

No doubt did I enjoy feasting upon 

My temporary human

Ingesting their words for breakfast 

And opening their legs for dessert

As though we would not devote ourselves 

In vow forever

The painting you left on my flesh will detail our entanglement together

Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Temporary Human.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.

Just choosing to be me by my own right. Physical 8” x 11” art print of acrylic painting, “Unapologetic.” Watermark removed on purchased prints.