BIOGRAPHY
Biography
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
ABOUT ME
My name 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 pursing 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 who is ready to bring empowerment 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. My artist dreams had to be placed on the back burner, but I knew that God gave me this gift for a reason and that this pivot in my journey wouldn't be the end of my artist dreams. During my pivot I entered school to pursue a dual certification (Pre-K-3 and a Teacher of Students with Disabilities certification). I continued on to receive a Masters in Education and wrote my Masters Thesis on Arts Integration. I pulled all the pieces of my life together, got married, and purchased our first home in 2019. Now as an artist and an instructional coach in a public school district my passion is to infuse the arts into the classroom as a tool for learning (academic and social emotional) and empowerment for students of all ages.
THE BRAND
Looking back over the past 13 years that I spent rebuilding my life and my dream, I understand that the struggles that I faced were a necessary part of my growth and my story. In 2019, I vowed to get back to my dream, which birthed this personal brand. This time with a clear purpose; to use my art, my voice, and my story to empower creatives and entrepreneurs to dream bigger despite the obstacles.
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As a multidisciplinary artist, my art is a reflection of my life. Through my art, I share my journey navigating life as a wife, mother, and educator, while celebrating my African American and Caribbean roots in a variety of creative mediums. My work consists of mixed media fine arts pieces, digital collage, and self-loved infused wearable art collections.
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MY MISSION
My ultimate goal is to share my art, my voice, and my story to empower others to dream bigger and leave their mark on the world. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me. If you want to stay up to date with all things Koko subscribe to my newsletter, click the link below.
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MY ART
“My artwork is a reflection of me, I am calm yet chaotic, a little bit obsessive, and a perfectionist at heart. I march to the beat of my own drum, not allowing stigmas and popular opinions to determine my movements. I embrace my dark brown skin and my gravity defying hair, I rep it proudly. Striving for more daily and sharing my journey with those around me., my ultimate goal is to use my art, my voice, and my story to empower and inspire the hearts of others.”
