Who is Arletha?

I am an artist, independent researcher, and cultural documentarian. My work focuses on the preservation, cataloging, and celebration of Black women artists—especially those shaped by abstraction, memory, ritual, and historical omission.

After years working in administration and community engagement, I returned to the arts to tell the stories that were missing. I began interviewing elder artists, photographing studio spaces, writing art history from within the lives of those who lived it. My practice blends fieldwork, archival storytelling, and hands-on visual art—including sculptural works, mixed media portraits, and collaborative doll-making.

My work has been presented at ASALH, and I am building a digital archive to preserve and showcase the work of Black women artists, beginning with Greta Chapin McGill.