The Akoma art exhibit, hosted by Fresno State’s Africana Studies program, will honor the contributions of Black women artists in celebration of Women’s History Month from March 3 to March 31.
The Adinkra symbol “Akoma,” which translates to “heart,” represents love, patience and resilience. The exhibit in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery features diverse Black women artists working in various mediums, including quilts, sculpture, painting, screen printing and mixed media.
A special reception for the artists will be held on Thursday, March 20, from 6-9 p.m., featuring an art raffle for attendees to win pieces created by the artists, giving the community a chance to connect with their work.
Meta Schettler, program coordinator for Africana Studies, spoke about the importance of the exhibit for local artists.
“I think it raises a greater awareness of the achievements, the talents, and the accomplishments of local Black artists, because I don’t think they get enough attention,” said Schettler. “So for us to be able to make space for them and bring larger visibility to new audiences is really important.”
Featured artist Tiffany Conway, a Bay Area figurative artist, shared her personal stories focusing on themes of resilience and connection.
“Art is a way of connecting to community,” Conway said. “It is a way of people finding connection to themselves, to their community.”
Conway emphasized the importance of boundaries for maintaining inner peace, reflecting on lessons from elder Black women in her life. She aims to illustrate these concepts in her work, highlighting the balance between self-expression and connection.
“There’s moments of our intimate life reflected in the work that not everybody else gets to see. And I think that that’s very healing for us, because we are essentially a marginalized community, and it becomes very easy for our voices to not be heard. So when I find that my work resonates with other Black women or with Black people in general, it feels like we’re all being heard,” said Conway.
She emphasizes the importance of her role as a Black woman artist, using her platform to uplift other artists and highlight their contributions. Conway is committed to exploring themes of healing and self-discovery in her work, reflecting on how her experiences as a Black woman shape her artistic vision.
Conway explained that setting boundaries is important for maintaining her inner peace, and she wanted to illustrate this concept in her artwork. She reflected on her adolescence years when the older Black women in her life taught her the importance of setting boundaries to protect her well-being. She emphasized that it’s important to embrace moments of solitude and heal without relying on external forces.
Schettler noted that the exhibit not only uplifts Black women artists, but also raises awareness of their contributions within the broader cultural landscape.
“Creating a platform for their work is essential for increasing visibility and recognition,” Schettler said.
The curation was led by art professor Vanessa Addison-Williams and Tyler Alcé, a senior double-majoring in art and Africana studies, with artistic design and promotion by graduate student Kambrya Bailey.
The Akoma exhibit is open to the public and aims to inspire conversations about the intersectionality of Black history and women’s contributions to the arts. It highlights the mission of Africana Studies, which emphasizes the history and culture of African Americans in relation to African peoples and the African diaspora.
