Keepsake T-Shirt

Purchase your keepsake t-shirt

Cost: $25 for adult sizes and $15 for youth sizes

Description: Mustard yellow heavy cotton t-shirt with image on front and back. The front of the shirt embodies the Sankofa heart shape which symbolizes the continuous process of reflecting on the past to inform present actions and future decisions while emphasizing humility, respect for ancestry and cultural continuity. The back of the shirt embodies a deeply rooted tree which symbolizes the deep-rooted strength of our heritage.

Artist: This t-shirt design was designed and curated by Yetunde Sapp.

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Yetunde Sapp — Artist, Designer, and Activist

Yetunde Sapp is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans portraiture, textile design, set creation, community storytelling, and public art. Born and raised in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, D.C., she grew up in the city’s arts district, influenced by its rich cultural history and vibrant creative community.

Early Life and Education

Sapp began drawing with her father at age three and attended Maret School in Washington, D.C., spending a year at Duke Ellington before returning to graduate in 2017. She later moved to New York City, where she studied at the Parsons School of Design, graduating in 2017. Her early work blended surreal, exaggerated portraiture with bold, colorful palettes, often featuring large hands and ghost-like silhouettes.

Career Highlights

Converse All-Star Artist (2022–2025): Created the “My Kind of Blues” sneaker art, a visual tribute to jazz, go-go, and DC’s musical soul.
Gucci Changemakers Fellow: Recognized for her creative leadership and community impact.
Smithsonian Acquisitions: Her work has been collected by the Smithsonian Institution.
Public Art Activism: During the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death, she began painting directly on storefront windows without permission, turning to public space as a platform for expression.

Notable Projects

Heirloom Museum (2025): A five-room interactive installation tracing the lives of her maternal great-grandaunt Rose Marie McCoy and paternal great-grandmother Debby Moore, both mid-20th-century Black singer/songwriters. The project combined archival research, textile design, and curation to explore their intertwined legacies in American music.
Textile and Fashion Design: Works as a creative producer, fashion designer, and stylist, often merging visual art with wearable design.
Artist Collective & Residency: Founder of the artist collective and residency SLACHOUZ, and a live painter and multimedia artist based in Brooklyn.

Artistic Philosophy

Sapp describes her practice as anti-disciplinary, refusing to limit herself to one medium. She integrates design, storytelling, and activism, using her art to highlight Black history, cultural heritage, and community voices. Her work often reflects personal and collective histories, blending aesthetic innovation with social engagement.

In short, Yetunde Sapp is a rising star in contemporary art whose career bridges fashion, public art, and cultural preservation, making her a significant figure in both the D.C. and New York art scenes.

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