Junior psychology major Shianti Bratcher is an up-incoming muralist, with a voice that needs to be heard.

Growing up in Harlem, Bratcher always had a craving for the arts. As a child she used drawing as a form of communication in situations where she didn’t necessarily feel comfortable. Bratcher worked with the organization Groundswell during high school, which provides youths with an outlet to create murals on the walls throughout their community. After a feud between mother and daughter, Bratcher was told to pursue a career that would be more profitable.

“I wanted to go to art school but my mother felt I would struggle, but now that she sees how successful I’ve become she wishes she was more supportive,” said Bratcher.

Because of her relentless artistic spirit, Bratcher refused to give up a passion that she cared so deeply about. So she decided to put her skills to work.

“Instead of using my art as hobby I decided to use it more as a source of income,” Bratcher said.

Bratcher started making art on the side by providing custom work for tattoos, clothing, and paintings, but her side job just started picking up this past summer.

“I did a mural with Sophia Dawson last summer in Cyprus Hills and ever since then she’s been like a mentor for me, she was the one who got me in the mood to start selling my work,” Bratcher said.

Dawson and other artists helped Bratcher price her work. Now she has made quite a bit of change with some pieces pulling in over $300.

It isn’t all about the money for her; she feels a strong connection to her work and the people who influence it.

“I’m a big fan on Keith Haring and Picasso, but recently I’d say Banksy is my biggest influence,” Bratcher said.

Her pieces generally reflect some sort of empowerment issue.

“I prefer to make paintings for social change, usually about police brutality or knowing your rights, I think it’s important for art to have a deeper meaning, that’s what makes it art,” Bratcher said.

Two weeks ago, the infamous street art spot Five Points, located in Long Island City, was painted over, leaving many admirers upset.

“I’m devastated that they would do this, it was a monument to hip-hop culture. It was some- thing that we could call ours; I would see it whenever I rode by on train. It bothers me a lot because people dub street art as graffiti or vandalism, which isn’t the case at all, it’s an outlet for self-expression. I’m not going to lie, I cried,” Bratcher said.

Bratcher does custom work for all types of clients with different kinds of backgrounds. Those interested can contact her at her email at [email protected].