Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Andre.
Hi Eric, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
At age 10, I started making Art from bamboo, empty cans, paper, and clay, and I would also move from bar to bar and restaurant, making drawings on their walls for them at no cost. I wanted to develop that talent in High School but did not see it as a career until my Bachelor’s education when I became focused on Ceramics art and Science.
I became interested in critiquing our social, cultural, and political system of control. I grew up in a system that kept younger one’s mutes from asking our elders questions as, and when you do, it means you are disrespecting your leaders. Therefore, Art became a medium through which I could express myself and also asking questions about all the happenings. Due to some limitation in our education system, I moved to US for my MFA education, and my transition from Ghana to US opened up another opportunity to explore how were are all globally remapping the world through immigration policies, laws, structures, and institution. I am currently exploring the displacement and vulnerability of immigrants in the constructed control system.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I will say it has been both a smooth and rough road from different perspectives. Talking about the journey interns of smooth road, I have had the opportunity to do what I enjoy as an artist. My art education in Ghana helped me develop my skill (thus craftmanship) and in-depth knowledge of several art materials with a little focus on conceptual development. My MFA education also allowed me to express myself confidently. On the other hand, there is a societal stigma about how artists are perceived in every space. In Ghana, it was hard even to let people know that I was an Artist because the negative response that you get from people affects you emotionally, discouraging you from pushing forward. There is a lack of materials, equipment, and the facility to support your growth. After improvising to do work, there was no ready market or galleries to exhibit your artwork which discourages a lot of artists in Ghana. Over here in the US, there are several opportunities regarding Materials, equipment, and the ready market. However, being an international with different cultural values make moving into the art world difficult. There have been numerous adjustments and sacrifices that I have made to get to where I am currently in my Art practice.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a multimedia artist, and I work with a wide range of materials, from clay, wood, metal, paper, and fabric, among others, but I majored in ceramics during my undergraduate and MFA education. I use abstract and perceptual-driven artworks to explore immigrants’ experiences of displacement, vulnerability, and negotiation by engaging the audience through interactive space using sculpture pieces, video, sound, projection, and drawing. I am a perfectionist, so I am known for my craftmanship, intricacy, and the detail I give to my work because I want my work to be visually attractive.
As an educator, I take pride in seeing my students excel in my class and continue to apply the knowledge they have acquired. I have also done some community engagement organizing workshops, so when I reflect on how successful and productive these engagements have been it gives me so much joy.
Curator, I have also curated 18 exhibitions in 5 spaces within 8 months, and I feel proud seeing all these exhibitions successfully to completion. These include Robert Ross’s A to Z Retrospective, Celebrating the Legend, Robert Ross, Threads of Identity, From the Heart, Mending the Pieces, Who We Are Revealed features Deb Manley’s works, Art in Fashion, Frame of Mind: Critical Black Theory for Black History Month celebration among others.
What set me apart from others is that I have unique story that I tell with my artworks, and I am very dedicated to my practice, my students, and available to people that need my help.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
My vision is to do a traveling exhibition with my artwork to share my story and educate the public through art. Therefore, I would appreciate any opportunity to have more space and other resources to exhibit my thought-provoking interactive body of works.
I am also very interested in community engagement through art workshops, seminars, and talks, so I am open to all art institutions, galleries, museums, universities, colleges, and art centers interested in community engagement. Additionally, if there are any international collaborations through art and education.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aeartworld.wixsite.com/eartworld
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sirericus_eartworld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andre.e.konaduyiadom, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064826047132
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-andre-1b5a29170/
