– Featured in PAPER Magazine and BUST Magazine –
One of our favorite cultural changes to come out of the past few years is the celebration of individuality. No longer is the trend to blend in – in 2024 being cool means being authentically and unapologetically you – today we celebrate those who stand out, and laud the individuals that help others come into their own in both big ways and small. The rise of social media platforms has allowed us to connect with such people that we may have never had access to before, pulling the generations together to seek out and lift up the talented voices that speak so well to our souls and encourage embracing and showing off what makes us unique. An example of such a leader is Kendra Dandy, a renowned illustrator and artist that uses her talent to help break the chains of conformity found in everyday life.
Dandy is a Philadelphia native, independent Black artist and female entrepreneur with featured work in a multitude of art media (and we mean multitude). A self-described introvert who is just trying to vibe through life, Dandy is remarkably adept at reading others and putting thoughts and feelings into color.
Inspired by modern art as well as art born from the Impressionist era forward, she cites aspects of nature, beauty, animals, vintage items/art and fashion as her primary muses. “My own personal moods, feelings, desires and events in my personal life and career can also serve as inspiration for some pieces,” she expands. Put all together, her inspirations help her create modern expressive artwork with a lot of versatility and a touch of vintage charm.
No stranger to the hardships of converting one’s passion into a career, Dandy has made dreams reality thanks to a lot of hard work and dedication.
“I have always been creative and artistic since childhood, but the challenge has been how to make it into a viable career,” shares Dandy. “After graduating college and having difficulty finding employment, I worked retail while trying to figure out my career path. I would always work on my art and designs when I got home from work, using social media to put my work out there until brands began to notice and I started getting opportunities.”
One such opportunity that fascinates us is her current partnership with CURAD® Bandages and their “Healing in Style” campaign. Her signature thought-provoking style has provided a splash of fun, color and flair to a medium that most would never think of: adhesive bandages!
However, once one does consider the marriage of art and medical, Dandy’s work makes perfect sense. Empowered healing comes from an empowered self, and what better way to empower yourself than through exclusive, fashion forward designs that both speak to your unique self and ensure you feel your best self?
“This was my first time having my artwork on first aid items, so it was very cool that CURAD® approached me,” explains Dandy. “It is definitely a category that tends to have very plain, not particularly fun looking items so it was a good idea to bring new life to my previously created fruit designs by adding them to adhesive bandages. The bandages stand out on the shelves against the other items that are in that aisle and that is the goal.”
Taking care of yourself and others may not be the easiest responsibility, but by making first-aid fun, Dandy and CURAD® makes it not just a simple task, but an enjoyable one. Whether you’re the parent of a neurodivergent child like myself, or just hate how normal adhesive bandages clash with your own skin and style, the fun designs born of this collaboration are a life (and style) saver. Not only does my little guy love wearing the bandages, he no longer picks at them because he’s so proud to show everyone how cool they look that he doesn’t prematurely take them off.
“That’s so cool, thank you!” responds Dandy when told what a hit her banana bandage design is in our household. “The designs were created several years ago and were a part of my design portfolio. I made a bunch of fun fruit designs that were colorful and had a lot of versatility as far as products they could appear on. Bandages just happened to look really good with the fruit patterns, so I am glad that CURAD® chose them.”
Putting a smile on faces is the goal of both Dandy and her partner CURAD®.
“It’s always great to see your work take on new life beyond being a 2D illustration,” she shares. “The fact that my creations can be a part of so many different people’s lives whether it be on a bandage, a shirt, a cup or a shoe is awesome and I hope that continues for many years to come.”
Her advice for other artists looking to make a similar impact and impression is to take ownership of your work and don’t let yourself be bullied into obscurity. As someone with a large social media presence herself, she is no stranger to stolen work and the pressure to be silent. “Don’t be afraid to speak up,” she encourages.
If there’s one takeaway from our time with Dandy it’s to never be compliant for the sake of others’ comfort. You matter, and you deserve to be heard, be seen, and be healthy.
Oh, and if you’re looking for a favorite bandage design, Dandy agrees: “the CURAD® banana one is pretty fun!”