YOUNG DREAMER

My name is Amber Koko Allen, I am a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and educator born and raised in Central New Jersey. I knew at the young age of five that I wanted to be an artist and have been pursuing my dream ever since. It was my kindergarten teacher that inspired the vision. Now I can proudly say that I am an artist, designer, educator, and visionary whose mission is to  empower and positivity into the world. 

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THE PIVOT

Let's fast forward to 2010. I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design. I left college on top of the world, then found my world crashing down shortly after. Life didn't go exactly as planned. With a bun in the oven and no prospect of a job in the design field, I had to pivot my plans, change career routes, and rebuild myself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This moment in my life was the catalyst to the brand and the mission; to empower creatives and entrepreneurs to look good, feel good, and dream bigger. 

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FROM PIVOT TO PLAN

The pivot was only the start. In 2011, I began to redefine and refine the person I wanted to be. The pivot forced me to set a strong foundation for my life; new years, new goals. I used my art as therapy and clarity while setting goals and intentions to rebuild my life at a time that I felt like a failure. I paused my art dreams and pursued a career in education, (my second love). I pulled all the pieces of my life together crossing off all of the goals I set for myself 13 years ago rebuilding my life and a dream. I now understand that the struggles that I faced were a necessary part of my growth and my story. The pivot forced me to be intentional about my plans. My plans transformed from lists to. visual collages. Little did I know that this practice would be a catalyst to a brand new vision. 

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NEW VISION 

I worked 10 years rebuilding my life and crossed off every plan that I created for myself during times of struggle. After a lot of hard work and dedication, I vowed to get back to my dream. During this time I also decided to not only list my goals and plans for my life, I would visually represent them through vision boards and sharing them on social media. This practice literally landed me an invite to LA  with CRWN Mag to their Future Craft, Vision Board event. That moment in time sparked a new vision for me. It was then that I realized I was empowering people across that country that I had never met. I have gained attention from corporations and media outlets who have featured my work, and invited me to host workshops  partnered with organizations; including CRWN Magazine, Black Girls in Art Spaces, and Morris Museum. It's 2024, and I'm starting the year off  with a rebrand, Amber Koko Allen. My mentor once told me, there is power behind your name, so I'm walking into this year with clarity and purpose. I am no longer waiting for validation, I am creating and curating the life that I have always dreamed of. What I learned over the course of my life is that there are no mistakes...every part of your journey is a lesson and catalyst to something greater. It is my hope that as my mission, my art, and my work inspire and empower you to dream bigger and walk in your purpose, as I walk in mine.