Kahzar Rublon is a self-taught visual artist, writer and educator from Cleveland, Ohio specializing in afro-realistic Black & White portrait drawings. Kahzar likes to create high-contrast, life-sized, contemporary drawings, with strong emphasis on symbolism, detail and expression. Kahzar's work is heavily influenced by personal, cultural and communal history, visual storytelling, self-reflection and spiritual growth and development. The use of patterns and symbolism in her contemporary works seeks to merge traditional African art practices with present day afro-futurist concepts.
Since the early age of 5, Kahzar has always had a love for drawing, reading and writing and was often found alone in her room creating anything that could come to mind. In 2013, she began her undergraduate studies at Kent State University, where she received an Integrative Studies Degree in Psychology, Writing and Pan-African Studies. While completing undergrad, Kahzar decided to integrate her love for writing, history and visual arts by curating her first Exhibition + Publication series titled, "Blackness is" = a collection of poems, essays, portrait drawings and self-reflections.
Upon graduation in 2017, Kahzar began her journey into community health and art outreach as an intern with the The Way of Mind and Body Wellness Center and The Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia, where she gained hands on experience in art education, community outreach, mural making, and art and wellness integration. From there, Kahzar has been teaching visual arts, creative writing and gender based support groups to youth of many ages and backgrounds, working with many organizations, such as: The Mural Arts Program, The Center for Arts Inspired Learning, Foluke Cultural Arts Center, and many more.
Upon returning back to her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio in 2020, Kahzar has began creating a collection of portraits and short stories for her upcoming exhibition titled "Homecoming" which explores the Sankofa concept of returning to the past in order to go forward.