MEET "TY"

“Life is too short to be gray and not to live each day to the FULLest. Be intentional…be authentic…and live in COLOR.”

– Ty Brooks

There is nothing simple or ordinary about me – Tynisha “Ty” Brooks.  I am a medley of all things creative, conjuring, colorful and cultural.  My love affair with all things creative began when my mother gave me a sage piece of advice.  One day,  I told her that I wanted to be a fashion designer when I grew up.  She then said “If you want to be a designer; you must learn all about the arts”... from that moment, that is what I did.

As a young woman, I became a student of art and culture – learning about music, theatre, art history, poetry, dance and design in addition to how culture was closely connected to all art forms.  I developed an appreciation for various forms of cultural arts such as rangoli, bellydance and flamenco.   As an African American woman, closest to my heart, are the various art forms throughout the African diaspora that allow me to connect to various parts of my identity as a “Diafrican.” (term coined by The Diafrican Reunion)

My formal postgraduate education was at Howard University where I studied fashion for a year before moving forward with interior and graphic design.  After Howard, I studied for a year in the MBA program at the University of Maryland University College before enrolling in the life coaching program at the International Coach Academy (ICA).  I continued adding to my creative arsenal by studying event and television production before taking formal training in photography and cinematography at The Bakery Studio which is the home of celebrity photographer Derrel Todd.  I am also a Reiki Master and shamanic apprentice.  In addition to my formal training, I am also an enthusiast of fashion, aromatherapy, color theory, crystals, chakras, astrology and numerology which are all included in my professional mix of services.

To experience the world through this unique lens helped shaped my point of view in developing a career as a professional artist.  I knew that I had a flair for putting things together aesthetically.  I wanted to combine my aesthetic acumen with my desire to help people bring their dreams to fruition. I was most interested in amplifying the work of the African diaspora. With that mission in mind, I wanted a career that would allow me to best use all facets of my skillset and allow me to fully direct my energies toward this mission.  After a brief stint in my “training grounds,” I coined the term “Sacral Chakra Visioneer,” along with a trusted advisor, to describe my chosen profession.

I am passionate about the diverse and authentic representation of the arts and culture as well the stability of the creative economy.  Through my umbrella company, ARTfrohemia,  and subsequent brands it is my mission to ensure that clients are able to exhibit their work in a manner that is unapologetically authentic and visually appealing.  Over 15 years of experience, I have had the pleasure of collaborating with a range of clients which include: BET Foundation, Step Afrika!, African Ancestry, Capital Jazz Productions and a host of others.