Sharell “Rell” Rushin uses oil, acrylic, and fiber as a response to daily happenings, her inner monologue, beauty standards, and the portrayal of Black people in global media. She was born and raised in the east end of Pittsburgh, before it was the cool place to be – Rell’s youth was spent as a classically trained singer, studying voice grades 6-12 at both at Rogers CAPA, and Pittsburgh high school for the creative and performing arts. Long before her dreams of being an Opera star she took interest in fashion design, honing her sewing skills by creating fashions for her extensive collection of Barbie dolls. However, she did not take interest in drawing and painting until her senior year of high school while preparing her portfolio for Art and Design College.