Meet Haniyfa Muhammad Branka
One word for 2026: Radiate.
That single word perfectly captures the energy Haniyfa Muhammad Branka is bringing into the year ahead — creativity that shines outward, community that grows stronger through connection, and art that lives beyond gallery walls.
A Multidisciplinary Storyteller
Haniyfa is a mixed-media artist and creative facilitator whose work explores identity, lineage, and the shared human experience. Moving fluidly between 2D and 3D media — ceramics, metal, fiber, collage, and sculptural forms — she treats materials not just as tools, but as collaborators. Texture, layering, and symbolic imagery become ways to reflect memory, history, and cultural inheritance.
Sustainability is also central to her practice. She often incorporates natural materials and eco-friendly techniques, giving her art a sense of grounding, tactility, and deep connection to the earth.
But her creativity doesn’t stop at making objects. Haniyfa blends visual art with storytelling to foster empowerment and healing — inviting viewers to uncover layers of both personal and collective narratives.
Her Smyrna Story
For the past three years, Haniyfa has been working in the Smyrna area through Trust Yourself, the violence prevention nonprofit she founded. Through this organization, she teaches conflict resolution and healthy relationship skills to youth, teens, and young adults — work that reflects her more than 20 years of experience in the field of crime victims’ rights.
She is also a visual arts instructor at Carpe Artista, where she leads group classes for children and provides one-on-one instruction. Whether she’s teaching a classroom of young creatives or mentoring an individual student, her passion is the same: helping others discover their own artistic voice.
“I love connecting with the local community through teaching, exhibiting, or collaborative projects,” she shares. “I’m passionate about helping others discover their own artistic voices while continuing to explore my own.”
A Vision for Smyrna’s Creative Future
Haniyfa envisions a Smyrna where art is woven into everyday life — not just in galleries, but in parks, storefronts, schools, and neighborhoods.
She imagines Smyrna as a place where creativity feels accessible, welcoming, and community-driven. This could include:
- Public art installations and collaborative murals
- Outdoor sculpture and family art days in local parks
- Partnerships between artists, small businesses, and schools
- Mentorship opportunities connecting experienced artists with emerging creatives and youth
Her approach? Start small. Stay consistent. Build community over time.
That spirit aligns beautifully with the growing creative momentum here in Smyrna.
Inspired by Nature
When she’s not in the studio or classroom, you’ll likely find Haniyfa outside. One of her favorite local hidden gems is the Smyrna Rutherford County Greenway — a network of wooded trails and quiet bridges perfect for sketching, nature journaling, or experimenting with small weaving and sculpture studies using natural materials.
Reading is her favorite daily habit — a practice that sparks ideas and fuels her imagination. Nature, travel, writing, and community engagement continually shape her creative process.
Advice for Emerging Artists
Her encouragement to new and young creatives in our community is simple but powerful:
Trust your instincts and give yourself permission to explore. Creativity thrives when you allow yourself to experiment, make mistakes, and stay curious.
It’s advice that reflects how she lives and works — boldly, mindfully, and with openness to growth.
How to Support Her Work
You can view and purchase Haniyfa’s artwork at Trellis & Vine Art Gallery, where she will also be participating in two upcoming group shows:
- A show with the Murfreesboro Art League
- An exhibition featuring the Buchanan Arts Center 2025 fellows, showcasing a spiritual series she developed during a year-long fellowship
