Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Acori Honzo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Acori , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I could always draw and compose music since i was a child. But as an adult I just sat down one day and started sculpting out of nowhere. I literally said to myself one day at work i want to sculpt a bear wearing jeans, a rabbit and a duck also wearing similar clothing. I went over to a Target and decided to buy whatever clay I found in the store. I sculpted them in a matter of hours and i got confirmation from people who walked by they asked me where did i but the cool figures. They did not believe i sculpted them. That let me know that i had the skill. I just did not have the mission yet.

What I learned later is that I would countless hours and tools everything could not be done in a day.

Patience is the top skill you need for sculpting it could take hours to days before you start to achieve anything with a sculpture.

The obstacle used to be information. I had to reach out to other artist because the internet did not have everything it has now. People did not want to share information if they had any regarding sculpture. I ended up years later acquiring the information i needed for myself from the internet and teaching myself to sculpt.

Acori , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a self taught contemporary artist. I create using multiple mediums, but I primarily sculpt. I was introduced to the artworld when a gallery owner saw my work. I later got exposure through local and international media because i had a studio in a public space where people could visit. Today I still will have pieces in exhibitions and galleries, but i also now am one of the co founders for D.O.P.E. which stands for Depicting Our Peoples Excellence. It is the first 1/6 scale high end art figurine line. Also i am the co-founder of Let’s Be Onyx a majority minority owned company that produces collectables ranging from classic brand like Universal Studios to new IP created by creative person of color who created their first comic book character.

My art focuses on our culture and our history. I use nostalgia to inspire talk about race, connect generations through conversation, and also provide black art that brings a smile when you see it then spark deep thought. My mission is to help others get their spark. I use the opportunities given to me to get closer to that mission. I use my skill to also show clients are shown how far their ideas can go.

One of the things I’m most proud of is having a public studio—being open and accessible to the community. It was my way of sharing our story, but what I got in return was even more powerful: the public showing me my purpose. To tell our story and to help others find the courage to tell theirs. Now, as I step into the retail space, I’m carrying that same mission with me. I want to change the face of the industry by bringing in as many diverse voices as possible—and making sure they have full control over what they create.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

To me, NFTs are a powerful way to connect with people beyond borders. The blockchain makes it possible for kids who don’t have a lot of money to collect affordable NFTs. Take a kid in Nigeria, for example—maybe they buy one of your NFTs for $5 in Solana. Fast forward to a point in your career when your art holds significant value. That NFT they own could now be worth life-changing money. That’s what excites me about NFTs—the potential for accessibility and opportunity. But at the very least, I see them as a way to create affordable art for the next generation.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Freedom!! My mind is the limit!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.acorihonzo.com
• Instagram: @acorihonzo
• Facebook: @acorihonzo
• Other: www.celebratedope.com
  www.letsbeonyx.com

Image Credits

photographs taken by JB Abbott