Her work is inspired by African beauty and modern and traditional African culture. Katanu art-making process includes merging kitenge fabric (African printed fabrics) with the medium of painting; the kitenge fabrics are a representation of Africa and its cultural heritage. In the beginning, Katanu’s art featured melanated women with coiffure and garments made with kitenge fabric. This was a result of her realization that there is not enough representation of Africans and people of melanin in online sources of modern art. These pieces were also an acknowledgment of her conditioning, from a young age, around drawing only caucasian faces and hair. This art style served as her way of giving a spotlight to the beauty of African women which has mainly been exotified or whitewashed since colonial times. Her current artworks focus on displaying immersive environments which are drawn from natural elements. Through her love of colour and applying elements of traditional and modern African culture/design & symbols, Katanu aspires to express her thoughts, emotions, and life experiences.