Faith, Fear & Flow: My Experience at The Black Girl Art Show Chicago

The Black Girl Art Show in Chicago at the Aon Ballroom was an experience I’ll never forget. It was exciting, nerve-wracking, and deeply affirming all at once. I had so much anxiety leading up to it, but underneath that was this quiet sense of calm — like God was whispering, “You’re right where you’re supposed to be.”

It all started when I began seeing the promotional posts for the show on TikTok and Instagram. For two days straight, I went back and forth about applying. Financially, I didn’t know how I was going to make it happen, but I decided to step out on faith. I told myself, the worst that can happen is they say no. And even if they did, it wouldn’t mean I was a bad artist — it just wouldn’t have been my time yet.

So, I applied.

Weeks went by, and I didn’t hear anything back. Then one random Tuesday, I opened my messages and saw that I’d been accepted. The organizers were kind, explained the delay, and instantly made me feel seen. Chicago is a big city with a lot going on, so I gave them grace — just like I was learning to give myself.

But that acceptance came with a new challenge: paying the rest of the booth fee. Around the same time, my car got broken into, I was preparing for an international trip, and money was tight. My job covers the basics, but it’s not like I’m living lavishly. So, I made a hard but necessary decision — to postpone my trip and focus on fixing my car and paying for the show. My car isn’t just transportation; it’s also part of my livelihood.

Then came another curveball: I was placed on the waitlist. That moment could’ve broken my spirit, but I chose faith instead. Deep down, I knew this opportunity was meant for me. So when payday came, I handled my priorities and immediately reached out to the organizers to see if there was still space for me.

They replied almost instantly — and told me my timing was perfect. They had one last spot left. I screamed, jumped, danced, and twerked around my living room like a kid who just won a prize. That joy was pure and real.

Then it hit me: Oh shoot… this is really happening.

Other than my paintings, I didn’t have anything prepared for display.

Mockup display for vendor table setup featuring "Black Girl Living Canvas" merchandise, including vibrant art prints and packaged stickers.

After getting the acceptance notice, I let myself breathe. I took the rest of that day just to sit in the feeling — the excitement, the nerves, the realization that I had finally done it. I was in an art show.

For years, I wanted to be in this type of space, but fear held me back. I have the talent — that’s never been in question. But the fear of actually succeeding was what had been stopping me. I’ve self-sabotaged before, telling myself I wasn’t ready when I was. This time, I decided I was done doing that.

After a day of rest, I locked in. I wrote out everything I needed to do. I needed professional art prints, a website (which I’d been putting off for way too long), and stickers. I even came up with a last-minute T-shirt design — “Black Girl Living Canvas.”

This show also marked the official start of my rebrand. I was no longer KAST Creations — I was stepping fully into my name and identity as Kaiionna The Artist. I wanted everything to reflect that growth.

Art booth setup before the show begins, featuring vibrant and diverse artwork enhanced throughout the event as visitors arrived.

I stayed up late building my website, ordering prints, and getting creative with what I had. I found a great deal on a table on Facebook Marketplace after a friend had offered their dining table, printed my banner at home, and even hit up the dollar store to put together my display. It wasn’t fancy, but it was mine — and it reflected my resourcefulness and heart.

As the show day got closer, I worried about doing everything alone. I can be hyper-independent to a fault, but this time, I let people in. My great aunt came to support, my younger cousin (who I helped raise) was there, and even a friend I met online drove nearly two hours just to meet me and see my art in person. I felt so much love.

And then — I sold two of my biggest paintings to date. The collector saw my art, saw me, and wanted to invest without hesitation. Funny enough, they were pieces I hadn’t brought to the show but had made prints of — and that’s what caught their attention. That moment was surreal. I wanted to cry… but you know, this thug doesn’t cry (lol).

The space itself was stunning — the AON Ballroom at Navy Pier was grand and full of energy. Being surrounded by other Black women creators made it even more special. It felt like home — like I was exactly where I was meant to be.

By the end of the night, I was exhausted but overflowing with gratitude. My social media grew more than it had in years, I made real connections, and most importantly, I showed up for myself.

I left the show with a full heart and a renewed faith in what’s coming next.