| Français | English
15% Off Select Chairs & Stools  ▸
On-Sale and Ready-to-Ship  ▸
Find a store
Urban Barn
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
New
Furniture
Décor
Outdoor
Sale
Shop The Look
Ideas & Advice
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
  • New
    • New
    • New Furniture
      • All Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Small Spaces
      • Shop All New Furniture
    • New Décor
      • All Décor
      • Home Accents
      • Wall Décor
      • Textiles
      • Lighting
      • Tabletop
      • Rugs
      • Shop All New Décor
    • Shop All New
    New
    Shop New Furniture
    New
    Shop New Décor
  • Furniture
    • Furniture
      Furniture Collections Custom Collections Available for Pre-Order 15% Off Select Chairs & Stools
    • Living Room
      • Sofas
      • Sectionals
      • Custom
      • Accent Chairs
      • Recliners
      • Ottomans
      • Coffee Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Side Tables
      • Media Storage
      • Bookcases
      • Living Room Collections
      • Shop All Living Room
    • Dining Room
      • Tables
      • Dining Chairs
      • Stools
      • Benches
      • Sideboards
      • Cabinets
      • Bar Carts & Storage
      • Dining Room Collections
      • Dining Seating Collection
      • Shop All Dining Room
    • Bedroom
      • Beds
      • Custom Beds
      • Sofa Beds
      • Nightstands
      • Dressers & Chests
      • Benches
      • Bedroom Collections
      • Shop All Bedroom
    • Home Office
      • Desks
      • Chairs
      • Office Bookcases
      • Office Collections
      • Shop All Home Office
    • Entryway
      • Storage
      • Benches
      • Console Tables
      • Shop All Entryway
    • Small Spaces
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Shop All Small Spaces
    • Furniture Collections Custom Collections Available for Pre-Order 15% Off Select Chairs & Stools
      Shop All Furniture
  • Décor
    • Décor
      Indigo Arrows x FREED Collection Kichael Bonofiglio Collection Wedding season is here
    • Home Accents
      • Decorative Accents
      • Blooms & Branches
      • Vases & Planters
      • Frames
      • Candles & Holders
      • Storage Baskets & Boxes
      • Jewelry Storage
      • Coat Racks
      • Shop All Home Accents
    • Wall Décor
      • Wall Art
      • Wall Accents
      • Wall Plaques
      • Mirrors
      • Wall Clocks
      • Hooks & Shelves
      • Shop All Wall Décor
    • Textiles
      • Pillows
      • Throws
      • Bed Linens
      • Drapery Panels
      • Poufs
      • Shop All Textiles
    • Lighting
      • Pendant Lights
      • Floor Lamps
      • Table Lamps
      • Wall Sconces
      • Shop All Lighting
    • Tabletop
      • Glassware
      • Dinnerware
      • Serveware
      • Table Linens
      • Kitchen Accents
      • Trays
      • Shop All Tabletop
    • Rugs
      • Area Rugs
      • Outdoor Rugs
      • Accent Rugs
      • Runners
      • Doormats
      • Shop All Rugs
    • Indigo Arrows x FREED Collection Kichael Bonofiglio Collection Wedding season is here
      Shop All Décor
  • Outdoor
    • Outdoor
    • Outdoor Furniture
      • All Outdoor Furniture
      • Shop All Outdoor Furniture
    • Outdoor Décor
      • Outdoor Accents
      • Planters
      • Textiles
      • Stools
      • Rugs
      • Shop All Outdoor Décor
    • Shop All Outdoor
    Outdoor
    40% Off Outdoor Furniture
    Outdoor
    30% On Select Outdoor Décor
  • Sale
    • Sale
      Up To 40% Off Ready-To-Ship Furniture 40% Off Outdoor
    • Sale Furniture
      • All Sale Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Small Spaces
      • Shop All Sale Furniture
    • Sale Décor
      • All Décor
      • Home Accents
      • Wall Décor
      • Textiles
      • Lighting
      • Tabletop
      • Rugs
      • Outdoor Décor
      • Shop All Sale Décor
    • Up To 40% Off Ready-To-Ship Furniture 40% Off Outdoor
      Shop All Sale
    Sale
    Up to 40% Off Select Furniture
    Sale
    Up to 50% Off Select Décor
  • Shop The Look
    • Shop The Look
      Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office
      Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
    • Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
      Shop All Shop The Look
    Shop The Look
    Living Room
    Shop The Look
    Dining Room
    Shop The Look
    #RightAtHome
  • Ideas & Advice
    • Ideas & Advice
      How To Measure Furniture How To Videos Find Your Fit Décor Mood Board
      Virtual Store Room Planner Lookbook Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Guide To Custom Right at home Virtual Design Studio Room Design Boards
    • How To Measure Furniture How To Videos Find Your Fit Décor Mood Board Virtual Store Room Planner Lookbook Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Guide To Custom Right at home Virtual Design Studio Room Design Boards
      Shop All Ideas & Advice
    Ideas & Advice
    Find Your Fit
    Ideas & Advice
    Room Design Board
    Ideas & Advice
    Reclaimed Materials & Sustainable Home Decor
| Français | English
  • New
  • Living
  • Dining
  • Bedroom
  • Decor
  • Wall Decor
Urban Barn
  • Shop Categories
    • Shop The Look
    • Ideas & Advice
  • Account
    • Customer Service

    • Contact Form
  • Hi, !
  • Account Settings
  • Orders
  • Sign Out
  • Shop Categories
  • New
    • New
    • New Furniture
      • All Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Small Spaces
      • Shop All New Furniture
    • New Décor
      • All Décor
      • Home Accents
      • Wall Décor
      • Textiles
      • Lighting
      • Tabletop
      • Rugs
      • Shop All New Décor
    • Shop All New
    New
    Shop New Furniture
    New
    Shop New Décor
  • Furniture
    • Furniture
      Furniture Collections Custom Collections Available for Pre-Order 15% Off Select Chairs & Stools
    • Living Room
      • Sofas
      • Sectionals
      • Custom
      • Accent Chairs
      • Recliners
      • Ottomans
      • Coffee Tables
      • Console Tables
      • Side Tables
      • Media Storage
      • Bookcases
      • Living Room Collections
      • Shop All Living Room
    • Dining Room
      • Tables
      • Dining Chairs
      • Stools
      • Benches
      • Sideboards
      • Cabinets
      • Bar Carts & Storage
      • Dining Room Collections
      • Dining Seating Collection
      • Shop All Dining Room
    • Bedroom
      • Beds
      • Custom Beds
      • Sofa Beds
      • Nightstands
      • Dressers & Chests
      • Benches
      • Bedroom Collections
      • Shop All Bedroom
    • Home Office
      • Desks
      • Chairs
      • Office Bookcases
      • Office Collections
      • Shop All Home Office
    • Entryway
      • Storage
      • Benches
      • Console Tables
      • Shop All Entryway
    • Small Spaces
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Shop All Small Spaces
    • Furniture Collections Custom Collections Available for Pre-Order 15% Off Select Chairs & Stools
      Shop All Furniture
  • Décor
    • Décor
      Indigo Arrows x FREED Collection Kichael Bonofiglio Collection Wedding season is here
    • Home Accents
      • Decorative Accents
      • Blooms & Branches
      • Vases & Planters
      • Frames
      • Candles & Holders
      • Storage Baskets & Boxes
      • Jewelry Storage
      • Coat Racks
      • Shop All Home Accents
    • Wall Décor
      • Wall Art
      • Wall Accents
      • Wall Plaques
      • Mirrors
      • Wall Clocks
      • Hooks & Shelves
      • Shop All Wall Décor
    • Textiles
      • Pillows
      • Throws
      • Bed Linens
      • Drapery Panels
      • Poufs
      • Shop All Textiles
    • Lighting
      • Pendant Lights
      • Floor Lamps
      • Table Lamps
      • Wall Sconces
      • Shop All Lighting
    • Tabletop
      • Glassware
      • Dinnerware
      • Serveware
      • Table Linens
      • Kitchen Accents
      • Trays
      • Shop All Tabletop
    • Rugs
      • Area Rugs
      • Outdoor Rugs
      • Accent Rugs
      • Runners
      • Doormats
      • Shop All Rugs
    • Indigo Arrows x FREED Collection Kichael Bonofiglio Collection Wedding season is here
      Shop All Décor
  • Outdoor
    • Outdoor
    • Outdoor Furniture
      • All Outdoor Furniture
      • Shop All Outdoor Furniture
    • Outdoor Décor
      • Outdoor Accents
      • Planters
      • Textiles
      • Stools
      • Rugs
      • Shop All Outdoor Décor
    • Shop All Outdoor
    Outdoor
    40% Off Outdoor Furniture
    Outdoor
    30% On Select Outdoor Décor
  • Sale
    • Sale
      Up To 40% Off Ready-To-Ship Furniture 40% Off Outdoor
    • Sale Furniture
      • All Sale Furniture
      • Living Room
      • Dining Room
      • Bedroom
      • Home Office
      • Entryway
      • Small Spaces
      • Shop All Sale Furniture
    • Sale Décor
      • All Décor
      • Home Accents
      • Wall Décor
      • Textiles
      • Lighting
      • Tabletop
      • Rugs
      • Outdoor Décor
      • Shop All Sale Décor
    • Up To 40% Off Ready-To-Ship Furniture 40% Off Outdoor
      Shop All Sale
    Sale
    Up to 40% Off Select Furniture
    Sale
    Up to 50% Off Select Décor
  • Shop The Look
    • Shop The Look
      Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office
      Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
    • Living Room Dining Room Bedroom Home Office Entryway Small Space Collaboration #RightAtHome
      Shop All Shop The Look
    Shop The Look
    Living Room
    Shop The Look
    Dining Room
    Shop The Look
    #RightAtHome
  • Ideas & Advice
    • Ideas & Advice
      How To Measure Furniture How To Videos Find Your Fit Décor Mood Board
      Virtual Store Room Planner Lookbook Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Guide To Custom Right at home Virtual Design Studio Room Design Boards
    • How To Measure Furniture How To Videos Find Your Fit Décor Mood Board Virtual Store Room Planner Lookbook Care Guides Pet Friendly Upholstery Guide To Custom Right at home Virtual Design Studio Room Design Boards
      Shop All Ideas & Advice
    Ideas & Advice
    Find Your Fit
    Ideas & Advice
    Room Design Board
    Ideas & Advice
    Reclaimed Materials & Sustainable Home Decor
Sign In Create Account
0 Cart 0
Right At Home Blog Inspiration Black History Month Gerda Boateng

Gerda Boateng

In honour of Black History Month, we're interviewing some of our favourite Black Canadian artists to find out what inspires them and what advice they're giving for 2022 and beyond.

Black History Month Gerda Boateng

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Gerda Boateng

Gerda Boateng is a Toronto-based self-taught illustrator and painter. Through her work, she aims to move the conversation about representation forward, showcase unconventional standards of beauty, and motivate people – specifically women of colour – to look at themselves as art.

How did you get started on this career path? Was art always something you had a passion for?

From a very young age, I knew that art was something that I was very interested in. Initially, it wasn’t something that I thought I could succeed in, but I always knew I wanted to be a creative so I pushed to pursue the arts through my school years. University changed my perspective on art and I strayed away from it for a while, but I found myself always returning to art in times when I needed something to make me feel centered. Naturally, I returned to it and decided to pursue it as a career. I made it my goal to build myself, improve my skills and truly find my joy within art once again. I started sharing my art on social media and finding my voice through art, and now here we are.

Do you have a personal philosophy?

My personal philosophy would be to always be true to yourself and always show up as your true authentic self in everything you do. when you do that, things naturally have a way of working out. Being yourself will help in every aspect of your life, in building relationships, career successes, and putting yourself in the right places. It’s only natural that things and experiences that are meant for you find a way to attract you.

What inspires you?

My love for people is what really drives me. Understanding that we are all human with the same experiences good and bad. Wanting to use my skill and experience to benefit others pushes me to keep going.

Any favourite art trends for 2022?

NFTs are something that I am really interested in. I’m trying to make my mark in that market very soon.

What’s one piece of advice that you’ve received that you stand by?

Do not get comfortable being uncomfortable, and don’t agree to anything that doesn’t sit right with you. Always do what’s right for you.

What’s your favourite piece of artwork you have created?

If I had to choose, I would choose my painting Narak Ati or Blue Black. These two are my favourite because they express my motivation for the direction my art has taken. They express the insecurity I had to deal with growing up as a dark-skinned girl in Canada.

Gerda Boateng Gerda Boateng

Are there any “art rules” you love to break?

I believe in breaking all art rules. Just do whatever feels right. Art should have no rules.

What is your favourite artwork from another artist?

I love Gosia Komoroski’s style. I love patterns. Her use of patterns combined with her unique style of portraiture and bright colours just speaks to me. She’s been a big inspiration to me and my creative journey.

How do you see the Canadian art community evolving to become more diverse?

I found that the pandemic really connected people to the arts. More people are showing an interest in art than I’ve ever experienced before. I think when it all boils down to it, art gives room for everyone to belong, so I just see more people searching for their creativity and finding ways to pursue that.

How has your work shifted in an increasingly virtual world?

I have been creating for several years - from watercolour to pastel and charcoal paintings - but it wasn’t till I took my art digital that I was able to propel my career to the level it’s at now. I owe a lot of my success to making my work accessible virtually.

Back to Top

We're extroverted...

Facebook Footer Social Image TikTok Social Image Twitter Footer Social Image Instagram Footer Social Image Youtube Footer Social Image Pinterest Footer Social Image
Back to Top

 

    • Store iconVirtual Store
    • Store iconVirtual Design Studio
    • Gift card iconGift Cards
    • Crown iconTrade Program
    • Crown iconmyurbanbarn

    About Us

    • Our Story
    • Give Back
    • In the Press
    • Store Events
    • Careers
    • Right at Home Blog

    Customer Service

    • Contact Us
    • FAQs
    • Shipping & Delivery
    • Warehouse Pickup
    • Returns & Exchanges
    • Cabot Floor Lamp Notice
    • Track Your Order
    • Ship to Store
    • Where We Ship

    Get Help

    • Live chat iconLive Chat
    • Email iconContact Form

©2022 Urban Barn

Get urban insider updates

We're extroverted...

Facebook Footer Social Image TikTok Social Image Twitter Footer Social Image Instagram Footer Social Image Youtube Footer Social Image Pinterest Footer Social Image
    Legal
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility
©2022 Urban Barn