Umi is a Southern United States–based visual artist working under the name UmiPop, whose practice explores identity, spirituality, and cultural rhythm through bold visual language. Originally from Walterboro, South Carolina, Umi later relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she studied visual art at Xavier University of Louisiana. Immersed in the city’s rich creative ecosystem, her work evolved at the intersection of painting, multimedia design, and graphic design.

Through intentional exaggeration, iconography, and narrative composition, Umi’s work reflects the divine and rhythmic pulse embedded within the lived experiences of her Black community. Her practice emphasizes emotional resonance and symbolic storytelling, offering viewers a space to engage with themes of ancestry, spirituality, and collective memory.

Between 2017 and 2021, Umi showcased her work throughout New Orleans in institutions and galleries including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, 912 Julia Street Gallery, Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans (CAC NOLA), and TRAPART. She is currently developing a six-piece body of work examining personal and collective ideologies surrounding life after death, scheduled for release in the fall.

Beyond the studio, Umi is committed to cultivating safe, affirming spaces for creative expression and community connection. She aspires to establish a community-centered multimedia production studio dedicated to inclusive, workshop-based artistic engagement.