Crystal Ali is a 22-year-old Nigerian artist and storyteller. Her work explores the layered experiences of Black individuals navigating non-Black spaces, using vivid colour, abstract portraiture, and found materials to tell stories that often go unheard. In 2025, her work was selected for exhibition in three galleries, marking a pivotal year in her career.

As a young Black woman, Crystal’s identity has deeply shaped her perspective, both in how she sees the world and how the world sees her. Until recently, her art centered on amplifying the stories of others in her community. Now, she is in the process of turning inward, using her practice as a space to reflect on her own experiences, particularly those shaped by migration, womanhood, and visibility. This shift marks a new chapter in her journey, one grounded in honesty, self-discovery, and a redefinition of what it means to take up space.