In this episode I speak with Malian-American artist Penda Diakité who grew up between Mali, West Africa and Portland Oregon. Her mixed media artwork, comprises of a variety of painting techniques, paper collage, and hand engraving. She uses the vibrant colors and patterns of her Malian heritage with influences of her American upbringing to create pieces that reflect her experiences as a bicultural woman, exploring black feminine identity, concepts and traditions from the Malian culture, and how it all co-exists in our present day.

Penda shares her journey of finding her artistic voice, the importance of understanding the business side of art, including contracts, and the need to sometimes handle aspects of your career independently. She also delves into how traditional art forms and cultural history can enrich and give profound meaning to contemporary artwork.

Penda also speaks about preserving and celebrating the stories and traditions that often go unnoticed. She believes in the power of art to connect people with their heritage and to preserve the language of forgotten traditions.

You can connect with Penda at https://www.instagram.com/thebeautifulartist/

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