Artist Statements:

Anya Talbert

My artwork explores sexuality and Blackness through mixed mediums and storytelling. Growing up I wasn’t used to seeing representations of faces that looked like mine or stories that sounded like me. So I know that creating this art is a way in which people are able to see themselves through my practice. Currently, I utilize a combination of digital mediums such as Procreate and traditional mediums like ink pens and mechanical pencil to showcase my art, merging these elements into a single piece.

Verania 

The nails I create celebrate the evolution of nail art through the years. My work connects the past with the present. Honoring classic styles while also exploring new shapes, materials, and ideas. I’m inspired by everything around me: fashion, culture, colors, textures, people, and everyday objects. I hope you can see in my designs the endless possibilities of nail art while also remembering the history that created it.

Alyssa Glaze

i started doing nails around january 2025. for christmas i got a bunch of gel nail supplies and from there i built my collection more and more. i was never completely satisfied with the nails i’d get at salons, plus they were really expensive so i decided to start making my own. turns out it is still quite an expensive hobby because supplies run out very quickly especially in the beginning when you’re practicing! but it makes me really happy that i have complete creative control on anything that i make, i don’t regret starting this hobby one bit. i sometimes spend entire days working on nail sets, the longest i’ve spent was probably collectively 10-12 hours on a set with all different hand-drawn nails representing 2000s internet culture. i’d like to think younger me would be really proud of me and think i’m cool, and that’s something that really motivates me! i also love doing nails for other people, it makes me so happy when people truly enjoy them and show other people and they like them as well. sometimes i forget it’s a form of art and they’re just living on our hands until they come off. i think that’s really cool:)

I started doing nails around January 2025. For Christmas, I got a bunch of gel nail supplies and from there I built my collection more and more. I was never completely satisfied with the nails I’d get at salons, plus they were really expensive so I decided to start making my own. Turns out, it is still quite an expensive hobby because supplies run out very quickly especially in the beginning when you’re practicing! But it makes me really happy that I have complete creative control on anything that I make, I don’t regret starting this hobby one bit. I sometimes spend entire days working on nail sets, the longest I’ve spent was probably collectively 10-12 hours on a set with all different hand-drawn nails representing 2000s internet culture. I’d like to think younger me would be really proud of me and think I’m cool, and that’s something that really motivates me! i also love doing nails for other people, it makes me so happy when people truly enjoy them and show other people and they like them as well. Sometimes I forget it’s a form of art and they’re just living on our hands until they come off. I think that’s really cool:)

Isabel Choi

My name is Isabel Choi and I'm an art focused manicurist from Portland, OR. I create colorful, bold, high-impact nails inspired by childhood nostalgia and self expression. My work is loud, playful, and is meant to be seen. 

My puppy, Pocha, is my muse and the face of my brand. Pocha herself embodies curiosity, chaos and passion. 

I love nails because they're a powerful form of identity. Nail art embodies confidence.

Adina Irb

This set reflects more than just a design—it reflects me. I come from a long line of strong, creative native women from Portland, many of whom built their lives around cosmetology. Beauty wasn’t just a job in my family; it was part of our everyday language. I grew up watching the women around me do hair, nails, and makeup, and it naturally became part of who I am.

Doing nails feels inherited. It feels cultural, familial, instinctive. It’s how I connect to the women who raised me and the spaces I grew up in, to now being a woman who is creating community and caring for others. The precision, the creativity, the care—it’s all something I’ve been surrounded by for as long as I can remember.

This set is what I would choose for myself, something that feels aligned with my style, my energy, and how I move through the world. It holds the attitude that currently feels the most like me. Nails doesn’t feel separate from who I am—it feels like an extension of my hands, my background, and the women who helped shaped me.