Best of Show: Imani Tyson
- Lukumi Arlota
- 27 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Congratulations to Imani Tyson, recipient of this year’s Best of Show award at The Funk Before Christmas Art Show, recognizing an artist whose work is grounded in instinct, experimentation, and emotional honesty. Tyson’s practice stands out not because it aims for perfection, but because it embraces uncertainty—allowing process, feeling, and discovery to guide each piece.
The award-winning work began as a planned portrait, but partway through, the direction changed. “I realized about halfway through that I was not getting anything right,” Tyson explains. Instead of scrapping the piece, she leaned into what wasn’t working, letting the image develop independently from its reference. That shift—described as an “I might as well do this” moment—opened the door to experimentation and ultimately defined the work’s character.
Much of Tyson’s creative decision-making happens before she ever picks up a pastel. Once she begins, she relies almost entirely on intuition. “Other than that I’m pretty much operating on pure instinct,” she says. Overthinking, she’s learned, only disrupts the flow. At times, she describes the process as her “eyes and hand communicating on a different channel,” with her mind stepping in only when it’s time to pause.
Color and material are central to that instinctive language. Tyson works primarily with oil pastels, a medium she fell in love with in high school and has returned to ever since. “I think oil pastels showcase my marking in an interesting way,” she notes, appreciating their ability to layer and mix without blending while preserving the energy of each mark. Across her color work, she limits herself to primary colors, a practice that encourages exploration over realism and keeps her focused on building color from the ground up.
Her approach to art was shaped early by family support. Growing up, she saw relatives’ artwork displayed throughout her grandmother’s home “with the same reverence as physical photos.” That environment instilled confidence and reframed art as something meant to be shared. As Tyson puts it, her desire now is “more to share it with my friends and family rather than any validation from the art world—though that is a huge bonus.”
The Best of Show piece also represents a return after a long creative pause. Tyson describes falling into months-long art slumps, followed by moments when the urge to create becomes unavoidable. “This piece was born [from] latency creativity kind of bursting all at once,” she says. Portraiture, in particular, brings her back to center: “It’s the subject I feel most at home when creating.”
Imani Tyson’s Best of Show honor celebrates an artist who trusts her instincts, values process over polish, and creates from a place of sincerity. Her work reminds us that growth often happens in the moments when plans fall apart—and that powerful art can emerge when an artist gives herself permission to experiment, feel, and continue.
Lukumi Arlota – Contributing Writer
Lukumi Arlota is a mental health advocate, black empowerment activist, public speaker, and business owner.
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