Fulfilling Her Dreams Stateside: Adwowa Obeng-Osei
In the 41st episode of Perceived Value, host Sarah Rachel Brown conducts her third and final interview at Adornment + Theory in Chicago, IL in conjunction with the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference this past May.
Sarah reconnects with Adwowa Obeng-Osei, whom she previously had on the podcast as part of her recordings taken during the ECU Symposium this past January. Sarah and Adwowa kept in touch and were excited to learn that they’d be crossing paths in Chicago while attending the conference.
The two women sat down to discuss how growing up in Ghana and what it’s like for a metalsmithing student there, Adwowa’s experience getting her visa to study abroad, and this talented metalsmith’s next big endeavor.
Thank you to Vivianna Langhoff of Adornment + Theory for supporting this interview and the 2 previous episodes of the podcast.
It has been a pleasure collaborating with you!
Adwowa Obeng-Osei is a Ghanaian artist currently based in the United States, who works as a metalsmith, print-maker, and object-maker. Her works are strongly inspired by the blend of the American experiences and that of her Ghanaian culture. Her current works deal with the effects of dementia and Alzheimer disease. Her interest in this subject matter came about after the medical diagnosis of her father. Adwowa aims for her works to create awareness to the public, as well as enable her viewers to experience what these families and friends of dementia and Alzheimer victims go through.
After earning her bachelor’s degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, in May 2013, she then made the decision to fulfill her dreams in the United States by acquiring her Master of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in jewelry design and metalsmithing from Bowling Green State University. She graduated in May 2019. She has in the past thought drawing and color perception, a first-year program offered at the Bowling Green State University and is currently an adjunct instructor teaching Time and Space (3D and 4D) at the Bowling Green State University.
Adwowa has received a number of awards, participated in exhibitions, and had works in publications within the past 3 years. Some of the recent exhibitions are 40 Under 40: The Next Generation of American Metal Artists, Articulating Craft 2019, Best of 2019, MADE: SNAG Student Exhibition, In the Forefront: Emerging Artists 2018 Exhibition, Best of 2018, Forge, Form, Fabricate, Best of 2017. She has also received two publications; namely, 2nd Annual Society of North American Goldsmith Jewelry and Metals Survey (JAMS), Sentinel-Tribune, Bowling Green, Ohio, “Fired up about Arts,” December 3rd, 2018. She has also received multiple awards, such as the Emerging Craftsmen Award, the Brooke Hannan Memorial Award, and Excellence in Metals.
