I had seen names I loved such as Cristina Martinez and "Carrots" launch their Coachella collaborations year after year and I swore to myself that will be me.  

By Paige Edwards Written February 10, 2025   In a society where political chaos consumes personal well-being, can art serve as both a mirror and a vessel for collective action and therapeutic expression? The sociopolitical climate in the United States is harming the well-being of diverse populations more than ever. Those affected by oligarchical and oppressive policies prioritize self-preservation as systemic injustices continue. Research links somatic, chronic, and mental illnesses to unresolved trauma and internalized negative emotionality (Goosby & Heidbrink, 2013). In a country that lacks security while fostering systemic oppression, an outlet becomes essential.   Self-taught abstract artist Uma Leoni channels her righteous anger through painting. Known for her Black History Month label for Pressed Juicery, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Exhibit, and mental health awareness collaborations, Leoni demonstrates the impact of art therapy. Which is further proven to reduce stress on both physiological and psychological levels (Kaimal et al., 2016). Thus, Leoni intimately connects her creative process to mental health, using her work to promote well-being and self-expression.   Her painting Election Day resonates viscerally—a two-headed monster, colored red and blue, sharing one brain and body. Holding a crowd of civilians, the villian drops them into the hell of voting polls. The frustration, anger, and grief many feel are often suppressed in the struggle for survival.   Art like Election Day does more than reflect struggle—it amplifies voices. If the system attempts to silence, then let art be the platform. If the world refuses to listen, the people must still express. Paige Anita Faye Edwards has her Bachelors of Science is Sociology and Applied Psychology and is currently pursuing a Doctorates in Psychology with an emphasis in Multicultural Community Psychology. Her theoretical orientation is an integrative approach to  Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Humanistic Psychology, and Narrative Theory.   

A huge thank you to Homme + Femme for this opportunity. The team was nothing but welcoming. Sometimes it can be hard to visualize the dreams we have. Stepping into the Homme Femme warehouse felt like stepping into a dream I've had many times. As you walk in you immediately feel a sense of comfort from the laughing and chatting in each room. The ceiling high shelves are stocked to the brim with colorful tees and jackets and the rows seem to go on forever and ever.  They offered me a handful of snacks and brought me back into what was my favorite room, their photography studio. Everything Homme + Femme does is in house from my understanding and for that they have my highest respect.  I popped on a few of their items and we got straight into shooting. Their clothes are just my style so I felt right at home. I painted a pair of the jeans (pictured below) and then we moved onto a quick interview. Unfortunately the audio may have been fried so fingers crossed we can get that to you all one day.  Seeing the behind the scenes of this small black owned business was so inspiring. It warms me that they saw the same passion behind my work and invited me into their world! Cheers to us both and to more collaborations in the future!     

Hello there beautiful people! My name is Uma Leoni and I am the founder of Leoni's Studio.  I want this art shop to have a more personal feel to it so today I took to Instagram and opened up a Q&A session! What inspired you to start this brand? I started LEONI's Studio to showcase my view of the world. I wanted to leave my mark while showing others just how beautiful the little things can be! The inspiration I receive from my loved ones was (and still is) so immense I had to share it. I started LEONI's Studio because it was time to stop being scared. Scared of judgement of my art. Scared of failure. Scared of following my dreams and going against a normal 9 to 5. So if you’re reading this I want to thank you. Thank you for supporting a girl’s dream.  How has your college experience contributed to your entrepreneurship? If my college experience taught me anything it was to go out and get the things I wanted. If I never went to school I would have never acted on so many of my dreams. It also prepared me for the extensive work this brand has taken to create.  What is your favorite art piece? My favorite piece is definitely "HEAT". I painted that piece at one of my favorite places. It was a peaceful day, I had just finished yoga and I was in an amazing mood.  What is your favorite form of self expression? Painting is my number one. If I'm not painting you can usually find me creating content social media pages. I also enjoy yoga and pilates. What artists are you inspired by? I wouldn't say I am inspired by any artists in particular. However, I do take a lot of inspiration from the chaotic perfection of graffiti art. A majority of my paintings start out as scribbles and are perfected on canvas later on.   What's your favorite flower? Peonies!