Alyne Harris has lived in Gainesville, Florida virtually all of her life and is a distant relative of sculptor Jesse Aaron. Harris has always felt the compulsion to create. As a child, she would rather draw in the sand on the playground than play with other children. Her cherished heritage and connections to the past are celebrated in her engaging art.

Harris usually paints on her front porch, using an old dress as an apron. Her imagery embraces the spirit of history, as depicted in her scenes of slaves and African American culture. She paints from her memories also, including lost loved ones, sunflowers, baptisms, weddings, and other family celebrations. Harris’ work draws heavily on African American traditions.
The viewer is called upon to travel the paths of their own recollections, an exchange that becomes part of the work itself. Harris believes it is important to revisit the past in order to connect with the present and future.