Sasha-Loriene McClain is a Maryland-based interdisciplinary artist whose works are deeply rooted in her inner-child healing journey and quest to recontextualize home. Born to Liberian immigrants, Sasha-Loriene explores mixed media figuration and collage to create spaces that transcend conventional boundaries of time and location. Her artistic practice serves as a powerful vehicle for African diasporic healing and empowerment, weaving storytelling and artmaking into a seamless tapestry of expression. Drawing inspiration from family photographs, meaningful relationships, and art forms from childhood experiences shared with her late mother, such as collage, crochet, and sewing, Sasha-Loriene carefully preserves generational narratives. These memories form a living archive that will eventually become stories for her daughter, creating a continuous thread between past, present, and future generations. Through her exploration of play and discovery, she unravels ancestral memories, navigates personal loss, and transforms oral traditions into compelling contemporary works of art. Sasha-Loriene confronts and deconstructs childhood wounds by creating evocative works that spark nostalgia while guiding viewers to recognize and celebrate life's everyday joys. This thoughtful approach not only honors her own evolution but also provides context for understanding the world around her, expressing profound gratitude for the full spectrum of lived experiences.
Sasha-Loriene is a 2023 grant recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council and the Baltimore Office of Promotion and The Arts. She has participated in artist residencies in Maryland and Michigan and exhibited in Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, New York, Florida, and the United Kingdom. As the founder of Mahyue Studios, a community arts incubator centering healing, storytelling, and cultural exchange, and Black Girls Who Paint, a global movement supporting Black women and girl artists, Sasha-Loriene leverages her BA in Economics from University of Maryland: College Park and MPA in Public Management from American University to amplify her artistic voice and social-engagement on larger scales. Sasha-Loriene is a current MFA Candidate in Studio Art Low-Residency at Maryland Institute College of Art.
