Meet the Artist: 

Louisa Faulkner is the artist behind the pen name “isa kelani”. She was born and raised in the territory of American Samoa where she developed her love for art. Growing up, she was surrounded by the lush green mountains with deep blue seas that were magnificent backdrops for the exotic plants and fauna.

 

isa kelani identifies as a Pacific artist because she represents a variety of Pacific cultures. Her mother being from Polynesia and her father being from Melanesia. isa believes that representation is important, especially representing people and their cultures accurately. It is her dream to share the beauty of the Pacific with the world and to represent all peoples of Pasefika.

 

isa kelani is predominantly a digital artist but has experience working with a variety of mediums such as watercolor, pen and ink, printmaking, and acrylic on canvas. She has assisted on numerous murals and sets across American Samoa with her father, renowned artist Mark A. Faulkner. She has also studied under Regina Meredith-Fitiao at the American Samoa Community College, where she learned traditional methods and motifs of the Samoan culture. isa kelani hopes to bring together the ways of the past and the technology of the future.