Lanecia Rouse: death, life, and full-time art

Lanecia was born the daughter of a pastor. As a young adult, she chose to study divinity and become a pastor herself. But then, at 36 years-old. Lanecia found out she was pregnant. And, as many expecting moms do, she started to examine her life in preparation for parenthood. She began questioning things in the church she hadn’t questioned before, and she started to re-envision who she was and what was possible. And that is when Lanecia began the journey into life as a full-time artist.

Here Lanecia shares her story as honestly as she does her art, her struggles with the church, her loss around her daughter, and her new life as a full-time artist who is finally free.

Some things we talk about:

• being the daughter of a black pastor in an all-white world


• losing a baby girl and gaining a new life


• getting starting making art as you’re your full-time thing and


• leaping after your dreams no matter the scrapes and bruises