Evelyn Adams — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Apr 30

Apr 30 Evelyn Adams

Biography

Evelyn Adams, also known as Yinka, was born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. Evelyn is a rising artist based in Queens, New York, uses her artistry to bring African culture to life in the United States. The rising artist brings Ghana’s rich culture and identity to the other side of the world.
As a proud Ghanaian-American, she embraces the two cultures in her artwork and uses both as an inspiration for her masterpieces. The artist explores diverse themes, styles, and media in expressing herself. “My work centers around textiles and traditional Ghanaian clothing, reflecting the country’s rich culture and identity. I express myself through the use of oil and acrylic paint to manifest African figures with facial expressions that bring out the essence of identity."
Over the years, Evelyn Adams has caught the attention of the art community not only in Long Island, New York but also internationally. In fact, she has had several solo and group exhibitions in New York and even in South Korea. On July 3, 2020, Yinka was featured in the “Sacred Waters,” a documentary filmed by Viviana Puello, CEO of Art Tour International Magazine, which was broadcasted in MN NHD channel 1993 in Manhattan.

Artist Statement

For me, art is a unique language without any boundaries or limitations. Every individual can interpret this language in their own way. As an artist, I create pieces with no frontiers or limits, firm in the belief that everyone can understand in their own way. I am a multidisciplinary artist who explores diverse media, themes, and styles, using textiles, beads, plastic materials, and other elements with a history that I find very intriguing. The materials and objects that I utilize in my work make me feel like I am narrating a story
through different media. My interest in creating works of art originates in the relationship between society and the environment. As a Ghanaian-American, I have been immersed in two different cultures. I embrace both in my artwork and use them as my inspiration for my pieces. Thus, part of my portfolio is a riveting display of color, movement, and abstract expressions and most of my work focus on textiles and traditional Ghanaian clothing, reflecting the country's rich culture and identity. I express myself through the use of oil and acrylic paint to manifest African figures with facial expressions that bring out the essence of identity.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

My passion for art began as a little girl growing up in Ghana. I drew whatever object or event that caught my attention and I sketched from observation. I did not continue with this interest until many years after graduating from high school.

In advancing my education, I enrolled with Nassau Community College at Garden City, New York, with the intention to major in Respiratory Therapy. However, I took one art course, Ceramics, (as a requirement) that brought back sweet memories, passion and transformation. I couldn’t control my excitement and sense of nostalgia anytime I was in my Ceramics class. I saw myself as a little girl constantly creating pieces of artworks. My feelings became stronger than myself and at that moment I decided to follow my passion. I changed my college major to pursue fine art and that was the start of my art career. I obtained an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Nassau Community College. Then I went ahead to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the Long Island University Post, School of Visual and Performing Art.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

I mostly create art pieces that focuses on textiles and traditional Ghanaian clothing, reflecting the country’s rich culture and identity. I bring Ghana’s rich culture and identity to life through my artworks in New York. I hope that my work can offer a glimpse of the Ghanaian culture while honoring and promoting cultural heritage.

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

I express myself through the use of oil and acrylic paint to manifest African figures and then experiment with new beads, as well as textiles and garments, incorporated into the canvas with the characters. I begin with the background with layers of colors and then sketches the figures. While sketching the figures, I focus on proportion. Making sure that figures are mathematically in proportion. Most of the figures are imaginary. Then, I begin to paint the figures and finally work on the details. I then incorporate fabrics into the canvas with the characters. Working with fabrics is a time consuming process because I take my time to stitch the garments with the figures onto canvas. I use traditional Ghanaian wax prints, Dutch wax prints and Kente cloth to tell a story that all of the figures have African heritage with a rich culture. The goal is to create and narrate a story that brings out the essence of identity and heritage in one piece of artwork.

What is your favourite part of the creative process?

My favourite part of the creative process is the discovery of the end result. The process from a blank canvas to discovery is very intriguing. I know what to create but I don’t know how the creation will be. From the start of creating a piece, I don’t know how it is going to come out from a blank canvas. The process of discovery motivates and inspires me.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

I am currently working and focusing more on creating works that connect with my cultural roots while promoting my views about the environment and society.

Website www.evelynadamsart.com

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/evelyn.adams.108/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/evelyn.adams.108