Born in 1950s Germany, the sixth of nine children in an African-American military family. My first conscious memory awakened my desire to tangibly harness the power of stories; our migration to the US gifted me perspective as I sensed the gravity of journeying into the unknown. While traversing the racial policies of redlined communities in Philadelphia, we transformed neglected houses out of necessity. I found objects with each move, intuitively knowing they were manifestations of memories with unique stories to tell.

Photos rarely survived our journey, so I recreated stories through drawing, silhouette, and collage. Although my portraiture and narrative illustration skills were refined through diverse education, I began to lose central sight in my 20s, which diminished color, detail, depth of field, and facial recognition. With my ability to render traditional portraits challenged, I experimented with assemblage art forms that required vision more than sight.

My lineage within the African Diaspora and the nomadic Fulani has expanded my concept of home, encompassing not only shelter, but a culturally rich way of life. Nomad - my mobile art dwelling - was conceived decades before confirmation of DNA; its evolution has defined my purpose as a Visual Griot Storyteller. Moving 46 times and traveling by road has enlightened me on being at home in the world while navigating the intersections of race, gender, disability, migration, and environment. These creative sojourns have strengthened bonds with family and community through resonating stories of my social practice.