Born in Melbourne Australia to immigrant parents, Allison Braaf often felt an outcast growing up. Her deeply rooted South African culture became an important role in discovering who she was as an artist, but also who she was as an individual. She explains “When you have a first generation birthplace, you have no history with that country, there is no lineage, no connection, so I’ve always felt a deeper attachment to my South African side.  It’s my culture and my inspiration.” It wasn’t until 2018 that she started taking painting seriously. “Going through a depression, I needed to look forward to something. So I enrolled myself in a paint night for adults, where I met my teacher and mentor. There was an instant connection. She motivated me, I fell in love with her work, her ideas, her style. That’s where I started my own journey as an artist.” Allison now uses her own art to tell a story. It has a soul, a depth, a motion, all of which are represented by her personal connection with her family roots and her emotions.