BESS: Sculptural Leather Reliefs Exploring Memory and IdentityBESS: Sculptural Leather Reliefs Exploring Memory and Identity
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Beyond commercial design, I also have an independent art practice called BESS.
My work explores memory, identity, and the cultural significance of everyday objects through sculptural leather reliefs.
Much of the work begins with familiar objects, particularly hair tools connected to my own family history and the rituals surrounding Black hair care. Through molding, repetition, and material exploration, I transform these objects into pieces that preserve their impressions and the stories associated with them.
What I love about having both a commercial design background and a personal art practice is the freedom to approach creativity from different perspectives.
In my professional work, I'm often thinking about the consumer, the market, and how an idea translates into a product. With BESS, the starting point is more personal and conceptual. I'm interested in the relationship between an object, the person who used it, and the meaning it carries.
Both practices require research, experimentation, problem-solving, and a strong visual point of view, but they allow me to exercise those skills in very different ways.
Sharing a little of that side of my creative world here.
Explore the work: https://bessobjects.com
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