Self encounters
Nifa Mousai
Nifa Mousai (b.1997 Bronx, NY) is an artist from New York City. She received her BFA in Painting & Drawing from Adelphi University in Long Island, NY and her MFA in Painting & Drawing from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY.
Blutruth-2021AcrylicAcrylic gouache Glitter skins Glitter Synthetic hair Synthetic eyelashes Rhinestone gems 30 x 30 inches
By Self encounters
Unanswered Call 2021 Acrylic Acrylic gouache Glitter skin Glitter Synthetic hair Synthetic eyelash Rhinestone gems Patch net 30 x 30 inches
By Self encounters
Baggie (DHL) 2021 Acrylic Acrylic gouache Glitter 12 x 16 inches paper mounted on 12 x 16 7'8 wood panel
By Self encounters
Keep Easy 2021 Acrylic Acrylic gouache Glitter skins 12 x 16 inches paper mounted on 12 x 16 7'8 wood panel
By Self encounters
Red Sparks 2021 Acrylic Acrylic gouache Glitter skins 12 x 16 inches paper mounted on 12 x 16 7'8 wood panel
By Self encounters
Greenpoint 2021 Acrylic Glitter skins Paper 9 x 12 inches
By Self encounters
Who Shines like me 2021 Acrylic Glitter skin Acrylic skins Rhinestones Silver and Gold tempra Sharpie marker Paper 9 x 12 inches
By Self encounters
Untitled ( Camo III) 2020 Acrylic Glitter skins Rhinestones Paper 10 x 13 inches
By Self encounters
Glitz 2021 Acrylic Acrylic gouache Glitter skins 12 x 16 inches paper mounted on 12 x 16 7'8 wood panel
By Self encounters
Upper Room 2020 Acrylic on paper 9 x 12 inches
By Self encounters
Untitled ( Camo I) 2020 Acrylic Rhinestones Glitter skins Paper 10 X 13 inches
By Self encounters
Unseen 2020 Acrylic on Paper 10 x 13 inches
By Self encounters
Untitled (Camo II) 2020 Acrylic Rhinestone Paper 10 x 13 inches
By Self encounters
Artist Statement
The desire to create an internal space within myself - a home to preserve my thoughts, ideas, and manifestations lead into the many versions of self representation that I explore. The context of camouflage is an extension of my internal space and a centralized tool that encompasses the parts of the self that are visible or missing . I paint with various materials such as glitter and rhinestones that portrays this sense of visibility, as parts of my subjects alternate from being seen and unseen in the space.

The oracle figure in my work Kafigeledjo “ he who speaks the truth” is an invisible bush spirit native to the Senufo peoples in Cote d'ivoire, West Africa. Kafigeledjo is used as a divination device to uncover misdeeds, false testimony, and culpability. The communication of the kalfigeledjo’s spiritual presence upon my work acts like an angel watching over the subjects and hold them accountable for their own doings or misdeeds done onto them. Kafigelejo personally represents power and child-like truths that go unexamined and overlooked.