Form, Abstraction, and Spirituality in Black Art

Moderated by Tacumba Turner, Founder and Artistic Director of The Future is Black, this fishbowl-style conversation will delve into the roles of form, abstraction, and spirituality in Black artistic practices. Featured artists Ruth Bedeian, Tyler Watts, Pamela Cooper, Jordan Mikhail, Ifeoma Igwe, Dr. Amber M. Epps, and Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa will examine how abstraction serves as a powerful tool for conveying spiritual and cultural narratives. The discussion will also explore the blending of traditional forms with contemporary artistic expression, and reflect on the lasting influence of artists like John Rhoden in shaping the landscape of modern Black art.

Meet the Panelists

 

Ruth Bedeian
Ruth Bedeian is a mixed media artist with a background in painting, calligraphy, and quilting who works primarily in fiber art. A proficient quilter, she was inspired by a great grandmother who made expressive quilts from discarded family clothing. In her work, Ruth explores personal history, including the history of Africans before America. Another influence in her work is the poetry of Jean Toomer, Langston Hughes, and the novels of Zora Neal Hurston. Ruth likes to think of her work as explorations. Quoting W. E. B. Dubois, “The Souls of Black Folks,” Ruth weaves a variety of textiles, visuals of African masks and geometric patterns, to form impactful fabric collages. Through her love of literature and history, she continues to draw knowledge and inspiration.
Website: bluemeridianquilts.com/pages/about
Instagram: ruthbedeian

 

Tyler Watts
Tyler M. Watts’ art evokes the enigmatic beauty of life’s journey and the structure of the universe, all through the curious spirit of self-exploration. Influenced profoundly by a 10th-grade excursion to Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater, Watts discovered a passion for the fusion of beauty and structure, function and free-flowing design. Hailing from Pittsburgh’s Northside, she pursued a BS in Civil Engineering at the University of Toledo, all the while nurturing her love for the visual arts. Though primarily self-taught, she honed her skills through a class in perceptual drawing, with a particular focus on portrait work. Watts’ artistic palette comprised primarily acrylics, spray paint, and conte crayon, skillfully interwoven to create an iridescent array that beckons viewers to explore with curiosity. Her ongoing fascination with geometry and structures permeates her compositions, offering a glimpse into her unique abstract expressionism. Notably, her work has been showcased in The Future Is Black 7th Installment, Art For Change Exhibition, and Mind Blown Art Pop-Up Exhibitions. Her current installation, “Nourishment,” can be experienced at Soil Sisters in Pittsburgh’s vibrant South Side.
Website: linktr.ee/tycreatesart
Instagram: tycreatesart

 

Pamela Cooper
Pamela Cooper is an artist based in Greensburg, PA. She is an entrepreneur, educator, and community leader whose creative style is figurative with abstract and expressionist influences. Pamela is the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni Leadership Award from Seton Hill University. As a member of Women of Vision, the longest running visual arts organization of African-American women in the USA, she has shown at the Carnegie Museum of Art. She also exhibited works at Wilmer Jennings Gallery at Kenkeleba in New York. Pamela graduated from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in Graphic Arts/Fine Art with an Art Teaching Certification. “In my practice, I feel the usage of different kinds of mediums has enhanced my ability to reach a broader audience, reflecting my artistic points of views that relate to my family and cultural heritage.”
Website: linktr.ee/studio1creations

 

Jordan Mikhail
Jordan Mikhal Bigelow is a Pittsburgh-born and based fashion designer and visual artist. An alumna of the School of Fashion at Kent State University, she is deeply inspired by fiber arts, craft, and print design. Her work is a vibrant exploration of color, cultural identity, and self-affirmation—bridging fashion, media, and storytelling to celebrate the rich tapestry of the African Diaspora. As a Class of 2021 Virgil Abloh “Post-Modern” Scholar through the Fashion Scholarship Fund, Jordan has been recognized for her creative excellence, winning the Eric Emanuel x FSF Design Challenge and being selected for an upcoming artist series with Tommy Bahama. She was honored as the 2023 Ann Lowe Scholar through the Fashion For All Foundation. Expressive prints, bold colors, and a deep connection to African Diasporic history have always shaped Jordan’s creative identity. She channels these influences into her brand, A Loved 1, a slow-fashion label founded on February 14, 2021. A Loved 1 is rooted in the philosophy that every person is one-of-a-kind, just like the pieces she creates. Through the use of Ankara cotton fabrics, deadstock materials, and intricate dye techniques, her designs encourage self-expression and individuality.

 

Ifeoma Igwe
Through colorful expression, Sasha Ifeoma Igwe explores semi-realism and surrealism through a multicultural, African diasporic lens. Born in Ypsilanti, MI, and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Ifeoma is a life-taught painter and illustrator whose passion for drawing was ignited at a young age as she brought characters from her favorite novel series to life. Despite having minimal formal training, her American and Nigerian heritage has profoundly shaped her creative perspective. Ifeoma delves into a wide array of media—ranging from acrylic painting and traditional illustration techniques to digital media—embodying an interdisciplinary approach to her art. By questioning themes of empathy, adventure, and reflection throughout her creative process, she deepens her understanding of herself while inspiring others to embark on their own journeys of exploration and self-discovery. With an imaginative spirit and a commitment to innovative expression, Ifeoma brings her ideas to life, encouraging those around her to see the art in every moment.
Website: ifeomacreates.com
Instagram: ifeomacreates11

 

Dr. Amber M. Epps
Dr. Amber Epps is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, writer, and cultural & spiritual worker whose practice blends ritual, resistance, and storytelling. Her work lives at the intersection of ancestry, abolition, and embodied memory, often using nontraditional materials to challenge dominant narratives and reclaim space for the truth. Based in Pittsburgh, she is also the Executive Director of Write Pittsburgh and the founder of Arts & Crafts: Botanica & Occult Shop. Her work has been featured in galleries, grassroots spaces, and anywhere altars can live.
Website: www.amberepps.com
Instagram: dr.amberepps

 

Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa
Akudzwe Elsie Chiwa is a Zimbabwean American, Shona/muKaranga visual artist, cultural producer and storyteller born on August 13, 1991, in the small asbestos mining town of Zvishavane near Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Chiwa holds a B.A.F.A and an M.A.F.A from the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town South Africa. Her impressive list of accolades includes The Simon Gerson Award, Cecil Skotnes Scholarship, Creative Knowledges Fellowship 2019/2020, and the McIver Award. Notably, Chiwa made history as the first Black womxn to receive the Michaelis Prize, honored for her 2018 undergraduate work ‘Continuum.’ Since then, she has actively participated in exhibitions, fairs and projects spanning Southern Africa, Europe, and the USA. Currently, Chiwa resides and practices in Mount Oliver, PA with her husband Parker Donaldson and dog Icarus.
Website: https://www.aechiwa.com
Instagram: akudzweelsiechiwa