Black kinship—creative community, shared identity, and collective power. We are a community-centered creative organization dedicated to supporting Black and underserved creatives through education, access, and opportunity—building sustainable creative futures and expanding early access for youth.

Kindred Noir is founded by Jayla Trenyce Watkins, a Black woman and fine artist driven to create space for Black creatives to fully explore and sustain their artistic voices. “Being the only Black woman in my major was a jarring and isolating experience, and I noticed that many other Black artists on campus were choosing more traditional career paths, prioritizing security over creative exploration. Pursuing the arts as a career is a privilege—not everyone has the opportunity to imagine a sustainable creative life—but it’s a privilege that all creators deserve. I wanted to hold space to help others move closer to realizing their creative identity.”

Determined to bridge this gap, Jayla launched the first Kindred Noir initiative: the inaugural Black Student Art Exhibition at Northern Illinois University in 2024. The exhibition celebrated Black student creativity, offered a platform for emerging artists, and marked the beginning of a broader mission: providing resources, guidance, and visibility to Black creatives navigating a landscape that often overlooks them.

Since then, Kindred Noir has evolved into a multidisciplinary organization supporting artists through professional development, digital marketing, nonprofit programming, and community-driven initiatives, continuing Jayla’s vision of empowering Black creatives to pursue their work fully, unapologetically, and sustainably.