INSIDE KENTAY

Upon stepping into the apartment of Kentay Varnell, visitors will be greeted by the sound of R&B music reverberating from the TV, house plants lining the windowsill, and an eclectic assortment of tools that could only belong to an artist. At 20-years-old, the Columbia College student has already begun to make her mark on her community through different kinds of art.

Kentay Varnell sifts through art supplies in her Chicago apartment on April 20, 2024. (By Aubreonna Chamberlain)

Kentay Varnell sifts through art supplies in her Chicago apartment on April 20, 2024. (By Aubreonna Chamberlain)

"I never have a specific goal with my artwork, it just kind of comes," says Varnell. "It's a form of expression for me and it's a way to pass the time."

Varnell has tried her hand at all manner from art, from illustration, to music, dance, fashion, and hair. Despite majoring in Fashion Merchandising, fashion has recently been taking a backseat to Kentay's other artistic pursuits.

"I feel like I've been expressing myself less through fashion, and more through the top part of myself," Varnell says. "I've always liked to play with my hair. Sometimes I do braids, sometimes I do installs, and sometimes I do natural." She points to long-time Zendaya stylist, Law Roach, and singer, Tyla as current style inspirations.

Fashion Merchandising comes with an expectation of selling clothes one day, but Varnell finds herself on a slightly different path.

"I've been into fashion since I was young, and when I found out Columbia has fashion, it just made sense, says Varnell. "But being there, I think I realized it isn't my end goal. I'd like to be in the art world. Even though fashion is considered art, it's a different kind."

Kentay sees these more traditional art forms as a way to give life to imaginary ideas, while her interest in fashion is more rooted in how she wants to look. In that way, forms of expression like illustration are less creatively restrictive.

"I've always wanted to sell clothes, but it's never gone past being a thought," says Varnell. "It's partially because lots of other people already sell clothes, so it's a question of, 'what are you going to sell?' I think I would want to sell my art more so."

While much of Kentay's artistic drive is sparked from her own imagination, her external inspirations and community can't be discounted.

"I like to look at different types of art, be it drawing, painting, fashion, or whatever," Varnell says. "Being around people who also embody that and like to express themselves how they want has made it easier to build a community."

Columbia alumni, Justus Brown, is an example of the community Kentay has been able to build.

"We met around my sophomore year and we just clicked from there," says Brown. "We just clicked from there. We both loved fashion, we're both water signs, and we both like to vogue and dance. She's just one of my really great friends that I met at Columbia."

Varnell and Brown were also able to bond over their queerness, an aspect of Kentay's identity that she doesn't shy away from talking about.

"Before I transitioned, I was living as a gay boy, and I had some room to express myself within that," Varnell explains. "I still went through little things like my dad not letting me play with dolls or girl stuff, but those bumps in the road kind of prepared me for when I did transition. It was a whole different experience."

Varnell, who has been on hormones since November of 2022, recalls times her identity was called into question, long before she knew she was trans.

"When I was younger, everybody would always tell me my voice was so light, and that was just my natural voice," says Varnell. "So at times, I tried to suppress myself and make my voice deeper. In little ways like that, I felt like I had to conform." She says that once she started taking hormones, everything clicked and she was able to start being herself.

During the pandemic, Kentay began to see social media as a meaningful extension of her self-expression. What initially started as small photoshoots with her cousin in her bedroom, has become a curated collection of art and fashion.

"I grew to like being able to creatively control my page and how I look," Varnell says. "I don't just do drawing and dancing, I would also count creative directing, and I style myself."

For Kentay, social media has gone a long way in not just giving her a platform to share her creative vision, but also in providing a bridge to the larger community.

For trans black women like Kentay, safe spaces can be hard to come by, but they're extraordinarily important. Chicago artists like Trejon D'Angelo have set out to form these spaces in their own unique way.

"NexusGrooveScape is a collective we created to center women and BIPOC creatives in Chicago," says D'Angelo. "Our goal is to bring people together and create events we would want to go to, and where people feel like they can be themselves and be safe."

Kentay Varnell poses at a NexusGrooveScape event in Chicago on May 4th, 2024. (By Aubreonna Chamberlain)

While much work has been done to cultivate these safe spaces, some insecurity still persists within them.

"Before I got really into vogueing, I had some insecurities about the technique part of it," Varnell says. "After that, it became more of an aesthetic insecurity." One of the main ballroom categories is the 'Femme Queen,' usually a hyperfeminine trans-woman.

"Sometimes being not all the way there yet is a little discouraging," Varnell explains. "But because ballroom isn't based solely on aesthetics, I was able to get out of my head a little bit, stop focusing on my appearance, and focus on the dancing."

Varnell's approach to art is rooted in spontaneity. "I don't make time for art," says Varnell. "They just kind of happen. I can vogue anywhere. Whenever I feel like drawing something I will."

Kentay Varnell reminds us that in spite of adversity, it's okay to be who you are, and engage in creative outlets for your own sake.

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