Artist Uman: Farm Life Fuels Vibrant Art

Self-taught artist Uman, whose early inspirations include the colorful dirac dresses of Mogadishu and fashion magazines, fled the Somali civil war at nine, moving to Kenya and then Denmark due to her trans identity. Arriving in New York City in the early 2000s, she developed an intuitive style using vibrant acrylic and spray paints, eventually selling her work in Union Square.

For the past six years, Uman has worked from a large studio in Albany, embracing rural life on a farm where she lives with her animals. Her art often abstracts rural scenes, employing grid-like landscapes and her signature dots and swirls. A survey exhibition of her work is set to open Saturday at Bard College's Hessel Museum.

Uman finds solace in her work schedule, often rising early and dedicating around six hours to creative pursuits, though she reports sleeping only four hours on average. She avoids large art-world functions, preferring a more private existence. Her artistic process involves working on the floor, starting with a mood or color, and building a foundation with charcoal.

When asked about comfort in professional identity, Uman expresses hesitation, noting the inherent instability of an artist's career. She finds connection through phone calls, which help combat isolation. Her studio contains personal mementos, including painted sheep shears and animal teeth, reflecting her deep connection to her upbringing and rural surroundings.