This episode features artist Derek Fordjour in conversation about his work "Fly Away" (2020). Derek Fordjour’s paintings, sculptures, and installations render the fraught complexities of the Black American experience.

Born to Ghanaian immigrant parents in Memphis, Fordjour’s creative aptitude was present from a young age, though his path to artistry took a circuitous route. After briefly attending Pratt Institute, Fordjour took a break from his art education before attending and graduating from Morehouse College, Harvard University, and Hunter College. Fordjour’s artwork is layered with textures and intricate details. His themes include the tension between invisibility and hypervisibility, the expectations and spectacle of Black athletes, and the under-told narratives of Black performers and magicians.

https://www.studiomuseum.org/artists/derek-fordjour