There is something special about reconnecting with someone who knew you long before either of you knew where life would take you.

Genesis Tramaine and I grew up together in Brooklyn. We first met as children singing in the church choir at New Mount Zion Baptist Church. Years later, we both found ourselves at LaGuardia High School, where she studied fine art and I studied dance. We shared those early experiences of discovering ourselves through art, never imagining that our paths would one day cross again on the other side of the Atlantic.

Genesis has since built an extraordinary life as an artist, creating deeply expressive paintings rooted in her faith and spirituality. Before dedicating herself fully to painting, she spent years teaching mathematics in Brooklyn, an experience that continues to inform her understanding of service, purpose, and the responsibility we have to others.

When Genesis came to Basel for a private exhibition and a self-directed artistic residency, I had the pleasure of welcoming her to the Braswell Arts Center. What began as a visit became an opportunity for a different kind of artistic exploration. For the first time, she stepped into ballet, contemporary dance, and yoga classes, challenging herself to experience movement in ways she hadn’t before.

Watching her discover the relationship between movement, breath, and painting was inspiring. It reminded me that no matter how accomplished we become in our respective fields, there is always room to grow, to be uncomfortable, and to discover something new about ourselves.

In our conversation, Genesis reflects on her Brooklyn upbringing, her journey from the classroom to the studio, the central role of faith in her life, and what it means to surrender to the unknown. She speaks with openness, humor, and a wonderful sense of gratitude.

For me, this encounter represents something at the heart of Brooklyn to Basel: the connections we carry with us, the different paths we take, and the unexpected moments when those paths come together again.

I am happy to share this conversation with an old friend whose journey continues to inspire me.