We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ewuresi Archer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ewuresi below.

Alright, Ewuresi thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I realized when I was about to head to high school. When I had to choose a major for high school. I went to high school in Ghana and high school in Ghana is boarding school. The way it is in Ghana, you select a major you’ll focus on during your time there. And thats 3 years. So you take classes that have to do with your major and those are essentially your elective classes. I remember my dad sitting me down and trying to pick a major for me. I wanted to do Visual Art from the get go because I was at a place in my life where I realized that being a creative is all I was interested in. I had stopped putting in the effort with classes that weren’t artsy. I was failing most things but was really excelling in my art classes. So I mention Visual Art to my dad and he brings up business. I immediately said no. I had never shown interest in such a field and I didn’t want to go to school and be miserable. Like if i’m going to spend 3 years in boarding school I’m going to at least like what I’m there for. Granted i could have switched my electives, I wasn’t even going to try it out because I knew I wanted to do visual art. So we kind of went back and forth for the shortest amount of time actually. I didn’t really have to argue much I just told him i’d fail the classes and then he gave in and made me choose Visual Art.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born in Burlington, Vermont to Ghanaian parents. Between the ages of 1 and 2, I was sent back to Ghana to grow up there. I was always sort of good in art and I guess the only way I could tell I was a good artist is I would always get complimented when I created art. From a very young age, my siblings and I participated in a lot of creative after school activities from dancing to cooking to taking classes in sewing, jewelry making with beads, to crocheting, to being part of my middle school choir at a point. I was always engaged in something creative. I mean I took a gap year between High School and college and during that break, I took a 6 month welding course. I also know how to crochet. I truly cannot remember who taught me that but I just remember it sort of being a trend for all the girls to crochet mini bags at my primary school and you were sort of lame if you didn’t know how to, so I obviously learnt from someone.This is all just to say that I was just always doing something creative but I didn’t always want to be a visual artist.

At a young age, I really wanted to be a pilot. That was my very first interest. I just thought I’d be so cool as a female pilot and then I became scared of just about anything and obviously, I can’t be a scaredy cat and be a pilot so I changed to wanting to be a musician because I was obsessed with Beyonce growing up and wanted to be like her but then I was really good at science when I was growing up so I changed my mind again and wanted to be a Scientist. Like I stated previously, I knew I wanted to pursue a career as an artist when I got to High school and in college same feeling.

I went to The Cleveland Institute of Art in 2018 and I actually went for Graphic Design because once my father had accepted that Visual Art is something I truly wanted to do, when it came time for college, he wanted me to major in Graphic Design because he was concerned about me having a stable source of income in the future but I wanted to go for Painting. I actually ended up still choosing Graphic Design when I applied even though I really wanted to do Painting but in the back of my head, I was thinking “Well i’m gonna be miles away from you in a different continent so really I can do whatever I want” and I did just that. I chose to pursue a degree in Painting and took a few Printmaking classes and fell in love with the art form that is Printmaking so I ended up graduating with a Bachelors in Painting and an emphasis in Printmaking and I am honestly very happy with all the choices I’ve made thus far.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is the freedom it has given me to express myself fully. Through creativity, I’ve not only discovered more about my individual self but I’ve also learnt so much about my heritage and the place I come from, Ghana. My artwork is a celebration of my Ghanaian roots, and this creative journey has allowed me to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of my background. Without the space and freedom to create, I may not have reached this realization of the importance to celebrate myself. I probably would have eventually reached this realization, but I’m grateful it’s happening now, rather than at a later time.

Another incredibly rewarding part of being a creative is the sense of belonging within a community of like-minded people. It’s really fulfilling to find a community where others share a similar passion and understanding. In a field where some doubt the practicality of this life path, the support the creative community here in Cleveland has given, makes it easier and more meaningful to pursue and enjoy what I love. Being part of this community has validated my choice and passions to be a creative.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Two things are driving my creative journey. The first if I’m being completely honest is the fear of failing. I’m sure everyone has that fear but I’m not sure if its ever a reason people say out loud when asked. I truly am scared to not succeed. I mean there are going to be times where I most likely will not succeed at some things and I am completely ok with that but to not succeed continuously scares me and it pushes me. I want to be a studio artist and would one day love to be able to say that I am a full-time artist so the fear of not achieving this goal drives my creative journey.

The second thing which I feel like I’m gonna be repeating myself a little here is just the fact that I’m learning so much about myself. It is really my curiosity of wanting to just learn more and more about Ghana and sort of tell everyone about how amazing of a country it is. My eagerness to share little pieces of this country through creating and also the importance of vocalizing the fact that colonization doesn’t really stop when Independence is gained. I mean it’s a country no longer under colonial rule but the effects of it are very prevalent to this day and that is what really drives me as well. Using my art to speak to people from Ghana who grew up there and heavily desired another culture and lifestyle just like I once did myself, over our own. Being a creative has allowed me the chance to spotlight our own culture and have others like myself appreciate it and I feel like this will be one of the reasons that will forever drive my creative journey as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ewuresiarcher.com
• Instagram: @ewuresi.archer

Image Credits
Image of myself taken by Emily Metzger of Restorative Art Gallery.