Ayina
Artist Bio/Statement
Aiyna grew up in Turkey where she spent a lot of time with her grandparents. Her grandmother was very creative and sparked creativity to come alive in Aiyna. They spent many afternoons into the evening singing, drawing, sewing, and doing crafty projects together. In a lot of ways, her grandmother’s influence is what led her to her love of art. Aiyna remembers her "Nene" (Turkish word for grandmother) humming a little tune everywhere she went. She was a joyful spirit and a positive role model in Aiyna's life growing up.
Aiyna was an only child and therefore felt like she was spoiled by her grandparents. They were affluent and treated Aiyna to unique experiences as often as they could. One of Aiyna's favorite adolescent memories was going for hot air balloon rides every year. While they did a few during sunset, Aiyna's personal favorites were the sunrise rides. She remembers seeing the faint mountains in the background with all of the beautiful colors of the hundreds of balloons illuminating the sky against the muted horizon. To this day, Aiyna strives to honor these beautiful memories in meaningful ways.
Painting is one of the outlets in which she expresses these memories - utilizing pops of color against subtle palettes of blues and grays ever reminding her of those serene mornings getting lost in what seemed like a fairytale on earth. This is where her 'Utopia' collection was born - a place in which everything is perfect. Although Aiyna knows that perfection is impossible to achieve, she feels her Utopia collection closely reflects how perfect her childhood was to her. “I know that my experiences in childhood were unique and not everyone has the same feelings towards their upbringing. That’s why I attempt to share a piece of my experiences through my paintings. My favorite part of painting is being able to create a world that people can jump into and feel lost in again and again. A safe place where they can take a breath and allow time to stop turning for a moment,” says Aiyna.
Aiyna currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she continues to paint bold and captivating pieces and invite people into her world. She hopes to inspire others to share their experiences through their own creative outlets, just as her Nene encouraged her to do.