Herstory

Isis A.N. Kenney is the creator and visionary behind Hip Hop Fine Art™, a pioneering visual art brand dedicated to preserving, honoring, and advancing Hip Hop history and culture through bold, authentic, and intentional imagery. Through her work, Kenney celebrates the richness, complexity, and vibrancy of the Black experience, transforming cultural memory into powerful visual narratives that live in homes, institutions, and public spaces around the world.

Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Kenney was raised in a household rooted in creativity, education, and cultural pride. Her parents, both educators and artists, cultivated her artistic foundation in a home immersed in African traditional fine art, African textiles, and the sounds of Jazz, R&B, and early Hip Hop. This environment instilled in her an early understanding of art as both expression and documentation, planting the seeds for what would later become Hip Hop Fine Art™.

Raised as an only child, Kenney developed a deep appreciation for collecting and preservation. She built an extensive personal archive of Hip Hop photojournalism books, magazines, vinyl records, and sports and cultural memorabilia, recognizing early on the importance of safeguarding cultural history that was often overlooked or undervalued. This instinct to collect, preserve, and reinterpret history continues to define her work today.

Kenney pursued formal training in visual storytelling, earning a degree in Visual Communications, studying at the School of Visual Arts, and later completing her Bachelor of Arts at the State University of New York, Empire State College. Her education, combined with lived experience and cultural immersion, shaped a multidisciplinary practice rooted in intention, research, and narrative clarity.

Hip Hop Fine Art™, a federally trademarked brand, is both an artistic movement and a design language. It bridges fine art, collage, digital prints, home décor, textiles, and interior design, all filtered through the lens of Hip Hop culture. Kenney’s work pays homage to Hip Hop not only as music, but as a global force that has shaped fashion, politics, language, identity, and visual culture. Each piece functions as both artwork and archive, preserving moments, figures, and emotions that define generations.

At its core, Kenney’s work is designed to educate, inspire, and provoke dialogue. Her visual narratives confront truth, reflect social realities, and challenge viewers to engage with cultural, political, and historical conversations. With a commitment to positive and meaningful representation, her work holds a mirror to America while affirming the beauty, resilience, and influence of Black culture.

Kenney’s work has been featured in numerous galleries and museums and acquired by private collectors, establishing Hip Hop Fine Art™ as a respected and enduring cultural brand. She currently divides her time between her home and studios in New Jersey and Atlanta, Georgia, continuing to expand the reach and legacy of Hip Hop Fine Art™ for future generations.