About the Artist

Zuri Ali is a Dayton, Ohio native whose paintings celebrate the complexities of identity, motherhood, and mental health, particularly through the lens of her experience as a Black woman. A graduate of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati (2016), Zuri uses painting as a form of self-exploration and expression.

Having spent most of her adult life in Cincinnati, she has become deeply connected to the city’s creative and cultural landscape, where her experiences continue to shape her artistic practice. Her work is personal and reflective, exploring the many roles she inhabits while confronting the societal and emotional challenges that come with them. While rooted in figurative work, Zuri’s
recent explorations in abstract florals reflect her ongoing experimentation with form and color.

Zuri’s artistic roots were established at Stivers School for the Arts in Dayton, where she graduated in 2011. Her pieces resonate with vulnerability, intimacy, and the human form, inviting viewers to engage in honest and necessary conversations that are often seen as taboo within the Black community. Within each piece, Zuri gives voice to experiences often overlooked while celebrating the strength that continues to shape her journey.