Chairing Memory: Layers of History and Identity

Like quilts, chairs offer comfort—they hold us, support us, and bear the weight of our presence. They also serve as vessels of memory and reflection, often conjuring stories from the richly textured lives of our ancestors and the futures they imagined.

This body of work draws on that dual symbolism. It is rooted in the preservation strength of African American quilting and inspired by the Ghanaian chief’s chair—a powerful emblem of authority, respect, and cultural legacy.

Using wood, family photographs, ghoulish clay faces, and found objects, I bring these influences together—piecing them like a quilt. Through layered materials, I weave memory, myth, and meaning to honor the stories passed down to me about African American life and family history.