What makes a purchase “worth it”? The answer is different for everybody, so we’re asking some of the coolest, most shopping-savvy people we know—from small-business owners to designers, artists, and actors—to tell us the story behind one of their most prized possessions.
Who?
It’s impossible to deny that Shanika Hillocks knows how to curate a vibe. Her Instagram page, a place of intentional energy and intimate connection, feels like a joyful celebration of authenticity. With a background in food and wine, the marketing and brand consultant takes her home decor seriously, as any veritable vibe curator would. Building her home base in what she describes as a “thoughtfully renovated brownstone in Harlem,” Shanika has even blessed the space with its own hashtag: #SugarHillocks (a clever combination of her name and the historic district of Sugar Hill, bordering Jackie Robinson Park, which she calls home).
What?
Inspired by what she identifies as “a personal calling to pay attention,” Shanika began to explore her personal relationship to art during the early months of the pandemic. Like the rest of her space, she knew it would have to be intentional, curated, and deeply personal. It was at the opening of Nicole Vassell’s Gallery, a Black-woman-owned gallery in Chelsea, where Shanika met a longtime Instagram connection, Cierra Britton, that would lead to her initial investment in art.
“A few months later, I was scrolling Instagram and was captivated by a series of posts Cierra had just posted: warm golden yellow, piercing eyes, rich black, and the artist Amy Amalia, tagged,” Shanika shares. As she explored the artist, the connections seemed particularly kismet. Like Shanika, Amy is Guyanese-American and New York–based. “The work in her Black Sun series centers on this idea of self-reflection and soul alchemy, two things that resonate deeply with me,” Shanika explains. Working with oil on cradled wood panel, Amy Amalia’s work feels lifelike and animated. The gravity of the piece was a natural fit with the historic details of her home.
