At the end of every month, the Logging On newsletter will feature an illustrious guest from our friends across the globe. For our very second guest takeover, we check in with New York multi-hyphenate Kiara Shardé.​​

Honestly, big up the internet. A few months ago now, I came across Kiara's instagram and immediately was drawn to her work. From her distinct collage graphics, and her "Studio Notes"​ series on IG which extensively documents of culture with references across fashion, art & music history, I knew the newsletter column would be a great excuse to selfishly learn more about her creative practice. And as if the content gawds themselves looked down on me and manifested my instagram fantasies, later that week Kiara messaged me on LinkedIn asking about Logging On. The rest is simply the timeline. - RAELAND

Logging On: In your own words, how do you describe who you are and what you do?

Kiara: I’m a walking Venus who loves to talk about beautiful design, music, and culture. This comes through work wise when I’m graphic designing, post production editing, or building decks and treatments. I’m currently on pause while I study documentary filmmaking and writing.

LO: If we looked at your phone right now, what would we see on your timeline?

K: Hot one-liners about pop culture from Twitter. This year I’m super selective about what I read on my phone because I need to stay connected to the physical world around me so I know my twitter timeline is always going to give news plus laughs.

Rae: When we first connected, you mentioned you were navigating freelance life. I definitely feel that. No matter what stage anyone is at in their creative practice/career, every day and project brings something new. What's the most recent lesson or piece of advice you’ve learned?

K: I’ve lived in New York for seven years and pursuing my career has always felt like a fast pace of instinct and hustle. However, we don’t really need permission to slow down a bit. I find that all the leisure activities that I’ve collected are the fuel to my creative practice.

R: Scrolling through your Instagram, I can tell documentation (of references, culture, etc.)
is a big part of your process and/or even your general aesthetic. Upon some further lurking on your LinkedIn, I saw you also have an Art History background. How does this part of your practice show up in your work?

K: A lot of my work life has taught me to work through deadlines with little visual guidance so I enjoy museums for inspiration. There was a point where graphic design was super minimal—we are slowly growing out of this phase now. During this time, I had a horrible streak of boredom so I began independently studying 20th century African American art. Even though I expected paintings, I discovered graphic designers, sculptors, and collage artists who visually spoke like me and who also challenged me to try new things.

When Virgil printed the Baroque Pyrex shirts I was so excited to see how a Black artist did not need permission to bring super exclusive paintings to the forefront of street culture. I could go on and on about the messages shared about what it means to ignore classism and create a real world that is gritty and far removed from polished perfection.

Now that I am studying documentary filmmaking, I want to create the same cultural exchange and conversation with my African Diaspora though. Like, how can I create a space where a Jesus piece pendant is respected as a cultural artifact? And how can I document contemporary culture so we can look back 10, 20, 30 years to talk about what we did?

Ian: As a non-resident of NYC, I need to know. What is your definitive go-to bodega order?

K: Honey turkey, cheddar and mayo on a roll, hot. No lettuce, no tomatoes. If you eat one of these while editing, then you can sit through the whole session without the interruption of grabbing more food.

LO: Plug time. Where can we connect / find more of your work?

K: You can find me on Instagram at sharde.studio and my website Shardestudio.com. You’ll see more from me in Spring as I slowly reveal my art history platform that’s dedicated to the Black Diaspora, music, and pop culture.

Art

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Music

Traditions red bull music academy

A collection of stories exploring rituals and practices of diverse musical worlds

Kiara's WILDCARD:

I’m doing a 50 day challenge as a reset because I’ve consumed so much media since the
pandemic my brain is overloaded! I’m a week in so for seven days I’ve worked out, read, and journaled. It has taken me away from my phone and I’ve never been so focused that it's crazy!

I say all of that to segway into a personal story of being at the gym listening to American R&B from 1996-1998. I felt so good afterwards because the sounds, the samples, the lyrics were all so intentional and delicate. I’m excited to go into an archival search on posters, videos, and whatnot.
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​KIARA SHARDÉ IS AN ART DIRECTOR AND CREATIVE STRATEGIST IN NEW YORK CITY. EXPLORE HER WORK ON INSTAGRAM & WEBSITE.