Mother Stories
Meet Tyra Mitchell, Twin Mama & Founder Of Art Mom Project
Written by Katie Hintz-Zambrano
Photography by Photographed by Mignon Hemsley
Mar 24, 2021
You don’t have to be an artist to love everything about Art Mom Project. The Instagram-based community and inspiring feed looks at motherhood through the lens of art, and art through the lens of motherhood. The project is the brainchild of DC-based photographer and creative director Tyra Mitchell, whom we’re featuring today. A stay-at-home mom to 3-year-old twin daughters, Ava and Aurora, Tyra was kind enough to invite us over to talk about raising twins, making time for herself during a pandemic, the intersection of motherhood and creativity, and more. Enjoy!
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- Meet the family! Tyra Mitchell and her twins, Ava and Aurora.
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- "I am currently living in DC. We wanted to have a space that was very contemporary and cozy for my family."
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- "I love my 'coffee table.' It’s not really a table, it’s actually a bench that I’ve been searching for since I saw it on 1stDibs. I found it for a steal price. I love that it is interchangeable. I change our space pretty often, so I’m excited to see how I think to utilize it next."
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- "I think it’s important to have a space that has a nice flow throughout. Not too cluttered, lots of room to breathe and move freely. Comfort for all is a priority."
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- A sampling of art and fashion books on Tyra's shelf: You Are An Acceptable Level of Threat by Banksy, The Photographer's Eye by John Szarkowski, Keith Haring: The Authorized Biography by John Gruen, Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin, Leonard Freed: Black in White America: 1963-1965, and Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty by Andrew Bolton.
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- "Mid-century modern inspired."
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- #TwinMomLife
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- "Not necessarily, I just figure it has to be a warm and safe space more than ever."
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Tyra wears a top by Everybody & Everyone and a vintage dress.
The twins wear Gap sweaters and H&M pants.
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- "It’s my and my partner's hometown, so all of our family is here. We were both in NYC prior, but realized it would possibly be better to move back to DC to raise our children and I think we made the right decision. Lots of family and community love."
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- "I’m vegan and love to eat, so one of my favorite places is Fare Well. My whole family loves it. Also Sticky Rice, which has really amazing vegan sushi. There’s also many cool shops, like Shopkeepers for cool imported snacks and other items, Grounded plant shop, and my childhood favorite, Eastern Market on the weekends."
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- Plants, toys, books, and other pretty accessories abound.
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- "The unfiltered and undeniable love that’s reciprocated with my children."
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- "How sweet and empathetic my girls are, knowing this world we live in is isn’t as sweet and empathetic."
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- "No, I never really thought about it. But I absolutely wouldn’t trade it for anything!"
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- All that light.
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- "I was extremely caught by surprise. I don’t have any twins in my family that I know of. I had lots of fear, but lots of trust."
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- "Their room is still in development. We moved here only a couple of months ago. But currently it is just a spacious place for them to play and magnify their imagination."
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- "I didn’t really care what gender they’d be as long as they arrived healthy. I still feel this way. I am just happy they are healthy and happy little people."
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- "They just turned 3 in February. They love to just be outside exploring in nature, which I am extremely thankful for. They’re not addicted to technology, they really enjoy the world around them."
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- "I work from home, so sometimes we have to break out the tablets in order for me to get things done efficiently. Our rule is no screens about 3 hours before bedtime. I personally am still working on this for myself."
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- "Their names are Ava Noelle and Aurora Naima. Their names came to me in a dream the night before I left the hospital. I completely disregarded the names I had written down prior."
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- "I push for them to be independent. My parenting style is very relaxed, but firm. I know when I have to cut in and let them know when something is not right, while also giving them space to figure things out on their own."
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- "Yes. there were a few books I enjoyed, but I found the most guiding light to be just talking to other moms of all stages and backgrounds."
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- "I really love all the mothers I’ve met within the Art Mom Project community."
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- "I grew up in DC with all of my family. I didn’t have any siblings, my household was just my mom and I. We were pretty close and did a lot together. My mom had a wanderlust, which led me to being able to travel a lot as a child. I’m also very grateful to have been raised with my family in DC pre-gentrification. It’s really sad to see how much my hometown has changed and how many people were pushed out. Many small businesses closed for condominiums."
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- "Yes, we believe it’s important that they know themselves and the history of their lineage. We want them to grow up aware and empowered."
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- "Stay calm. It’s kinda scary and people push a lot of information on you that may not even apply to your situation. You have to just trust yourself and trust your body."
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- "My room is my safe space and sanctuary. It’s where I both work and decompress, but mostly the latter. It’s cozy with elements of my life journey that make me happy."
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- "Art Mom Project is a community and platform to highlight a spectrum of mothers and their journey. I wanted a space to place everyone and all the resources that I have found helpful during my motherhood journey."
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- Some of the titles in the bedroom stacks: How to Gain an Extra Hour Every Day by Ray Josephs, The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli, Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement by Nadya Okamoto, The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit by Queen Afua, and Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan.
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- "I was a photographer and creative director in NYC."
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- "I do a lot of research and watching a lot of YouTube videos to learn new things. Also, just walking outside and looking around me; getting inspired by life."
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- "It has fueled me to think critically about the art I want to produce. It has also fueled my drive to be greater than I ever was."
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- "Honestly, a new challenge arises everyday. I am also a stay-at-home mother and have always been since before the pandemic."
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- "Absolutely! I love my fellow art mamas: photographer @kanyaiwana. Visual artist @sew_trill. Illustrator @joolsannie."
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- "Things may change drastically, but your passion for art should never die because you’re a mom now. For me, it fueled my drive even more. It’s tough, but if you’re committed to your end goal, you will figure out how to get there. And, of course, check out @artmomproject because it’s a community for us by us."
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- "Writing things down and really believing that it (whatever your dreams are) can happen for you."
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- "All the time. I cope by knowing it’s okay to want to have time to myself. It’s an integral part of me being a better mom in the long run."
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- "My style is very minimal, with statement pieces here and there. A daily staple is this necklace that I got from a local market here in DC. It’s a gold heart with rainbow stones."
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- "Yes, I’d be lying if I said I don’t wear sweatpants most of the time."
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- "I’ve become super minimal with beauty. I usually use Aesop skincare and Glossier for a light makeup look."
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- "I try to wake up with the sun every morning, have a glass of water, and say affirmations for the day. Then, my toddlers wake up and it gets chaotic and that’s all the time mom has for herself!"
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- "Pre-pandemic me time was being able to go places. I never really got to go anywhere because I was always with my kids, but when I had the chance I would hop to it. It’s important for mothers, especially new mothers, to have time to themselves. Those first few days, months, and years are extremely taxing. I was also breastfeeding two for 2 years, so I never had any time for myself ever. Self-care during the pandemic is being able to have a day in the weekend to myself."
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- "Trust the process and stay as organized as you can."
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- "This pandemic just showed us a lot of things most of us already knew were happening. I just try to protect and educate my children as much as possible."
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- "To love harder and work smarter."
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- Keep following along with Tyra, her work, and her twins via Instagram at @tyrathezombie and @artmomproject.
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Your home is so beautiful and light, and it’s nice to see that someone else’s IKEA play kitchen is just like ours .. well-loved with drawing all over!