We were lucky to catch up with Clottee Hammons recently and have shared our conversation below.

Clottee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

In the Southwest Black people are routinely excluded from the historical narratives of the West or areas that are local for them. Therefore, all of their Arts learning and exposures are Eurocentric. As a Black child (in Catholic school) I was discouraged from depicting Black babies, princesses and angels.

In college I inquired of a professor why he always characterized African Art as primitive. He cursed me out in front of the class. It felt like a lynching.

People in my family and segregated community appreciated my creativity and that was the fuel I needed.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The Mission of Emancipation Arts LLC is to raise the profile of Black artists and honor our African and enslaved ancestors through measurably influencing, constructively impacting, and fortifying under-served, at-risk or neglected populations; with particular focus on African American, African and Caribbean immigrant and African refugee communities in Maricopa County, through Arts practices and egalitarian collaborations.

Our motto:
“I promise you will learn what schools will not teach.” Clottee Hammons

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For close to 30 years all of the exhibitions and events that I have hosted have been done without the benefit of funding. A perfunctory scan of grants and local funding opportunities will show that Black visual artists are largely left out. Unless they are performing artists or have built a reputation elsewhere, the likelihood of Black programming receiving funding is nil.

In 2026 I will host The 30th Annual Emancipation Marathon, which started in The Hub (now The Valley Bar). The purpose of The Emancipation Marathon is to honor and commemorate our enslaved ancestors and and their descendants by acknowledging the African victims of American Chattel Slavery in a dignified community-focused manner. The Emancipation Marathon is a series of readings that exposes readers and listeners to historical information about American Chattel Slavery, which has been and continues to be obscured and withheld. There is not one day in this country that honors the enslaved that built the wealth that continues in this country.

I continue to build relationships with not just the Arts community, but with those interested in accurate history, true talent and compassion; which sometimes allows me to “guest-curate” and continue to exhibit fellow artists.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

With the exception of a few names the lack of information about the contributions of Blacks in the Southwest, continues to obscure ancestral accomplishments and hopes of future generations.

I will continue to create, educate and uplift until I can’t anymore.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emancipationartsaz.llc/
• Instagram: clotteehammons
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clottee/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/iwmMzJR-9GA?si=Fl9qu8o1bzjmSFjk
• Other: just Google my name

Image Credits

Both images are my artwork.
The title of Mother and Child is “Holding On”. It is in honor of women in fear of losing their children due to poverty.

The title of the image of the boxer is “Put ’em Up”.