Adaja Cooper is an award-winning artist and student whose work focuses on the experiences and heritage of African Americans. Cooper was born in Magnolia, Arkansas but grew up in Little Rock.

A young Cooper was always interested in art, taking commissions as early as elementary school.

However, she started to take it seriously in her junior year at Little Rock Central High School, where she was inspired by her art teacher, UCA graduate Rex Deloney.

Her art specializes in paint and she describes it as conversational, vibrant and intimate.

“I work a lot with acrylics, oil, house paints, and gouache. I am also a blossoming muralist and printmaker.” Cooper said.

As for inspiration, the movies and music videos she watched as a kid lend to her creativity.

“I am inspired by Black culture and media,” Cooper said.

Her proudest moment as an artist was being on the cover of the Arkansas Times in July of 2022. Additionally, she was a finalist for the 2022 Arkansas Times “Best of Arkansas” in the visual art category.

“The fact I was nominated for Best Artist in Arkansas is still mind-blowing,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s art has been published and displayed across the state. In July 2021, she created a painting titled “Ignite Your Imagination” for the Central Arkansas Library System, which was displayed in the Williams Library and on a downtown Little Rock billboard atop the Roberts Library.

While she dominates the art scene in Arkansas, Cooper is also a student at Hendrix College. Cooper is majoring in art with a minor in Business.

When it comes to managing her art business and going to school, Cooper said, “Sometimes my work life and personal art-making flow together. However, I often have to compromise on personal projects to make time for school.”

Cooper has a mini art studio in her room that helps her with this work and school balance.

Her favorite painting that she has done changes depending on how she feels. “Right now it’s ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’,” Cooper said. It was sold shortly after she made it. “I loved the color palette and texture on it.”

Next, Cooper wants to get her masters in fine arts, have her art displayed outside of the country and start screen printing her own T-shirts.

Cooper’s art can be purchased on her website adajacooperstudio.com

Follow her on Instagram @adajacooper for more art content.