The inspiration behind this portrait comes from the the impact that Erykah Badu has made and is continuing to make in the communities striving for black excellence. The image and message that she portrays through her music and public appearances are inspirational and monumental for self-empowerment, how to be natural and love yourself in a world full of cosmetic adaptation. Her inspiration has no boundaries and her voice has reached many hearts and homes. 

The idea behind the Mask of Badu is to grant viewers with the ability to see the world through the Eyes and envision things as she would. The afro, a symbolic crown of African american culture is decorated with the stars of the galaxy showing an infinite boundless boundaries. The fact that the afro is connected to the head, which encases the skull, which then caresses the brain, is all to relate back to the fact that there is endless possibilities for ones mind to create.