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

Alright, Michael thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always been interested in art even when I didn’t realize it. I used to play around in the neighborhood a lot taking empty cans, and then, we’d recycle that into a little car, make little clay figurines out of mud, and just play around all day exploring one material to other. I didn’t know what I was actually doing until I got to high school and college. Taking art classes felt like a revival of something I’ve been doing since childhood. Actually, this revelation was the genesis of denial. It was hard to perceive myself as an artist as there was little or no recognition for artists in Ghana back then. Thinking of becoming an artist was synonymous with not being smart, or not having a reputable life or career. This Ideology partly shaped my thinking growing up and lived in denial of my true voice and creative self. In college at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, I decided to study Industrial Art the idea was simple, pick a course that allows you to make art and perhaps make a good living working for an industry. Should family, friends, and relatives ask what I doing with my life I had a tangible answer to give them. In my first year of college after taking Metals/ Jewellery, Ceramics, and Textiles I fell in love with Clay as a medium of artistic expression. I was intrigued by how I could immerse myself in a material that records every memory, thoughts and embodies my state of being. This revelation, however, led to the making of only functional and decorative works as part of the course structure.

Upon graduation earning my degree in B. A. Industrial Art -Ceramics Major, I realized very quickly, my simple idea was not simple after all. There was no industry I could work in with my degree in Ghana. I thought to myself maybe I could become a professor and teach instead. That led me to become a TA post-graduation in preparation for a Master’s degree. Researching programs that could propel this goal, I discovered the Master of Fine Art program. Discovering the freedom of exploration and expression coupled with the numerous possibilities of art and artist around the world, I knew right then I wanted to become an artist. Knowing the MFA program that offers me an opportunity to make art with a possible scholarship I was all in. With the help of Jeannie Hullen ( a Fulbright Professor from the University of Arkansas and her partner Adam Posnak, I was able to navigate the school application process in the US and got a scholarship to Study MFA in 2019.

Michael, 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 Ghanaian ceramic sculptor and the current Artist In resident in the ceramic department at Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia. Clay is my primary medium. My work takes the shapes of organic and inorganic forms, mixed-media sculptures, and installations. Using found materials in conjunction with clay. My artistic process is “a spontaneous and playful improvisation of material. I try to find a balance between breaking rules and being playful.” Originally from Ghana, much of my work is informed by the vibrancy of Ghanaian marketplaces. The incorporation of abstractions, motion, vivid color, and varied textures pays homage to these memories. I’m inspired by space and movement and trying to redefine and understand my identity in my current space,” My works convey feelings of displacement and belonging, exploring and negotiating the complex terrain of identity.

I have received numerous awards including the 2022 Multicultural fellowship award from National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts (NCECA), Jessie Ball duPont Fund- Partnership for Arts & Culture Grant Award 2022, and A. Magness Fellowship Award 2021 among others. My work has been shown Nationally and Internally in Germany- Berlin, Turkey, Delaware, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, Virginia, and Florida. Grounds for Sculpture- New Jersey, Biggs Museum, and currently His First Museum Solo Show At Berman Museum of Art, Pennsylvania.

Follow my practice on Instagram and my website

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

Thought breeds actions and with action comes creation The ability to bridge the gap between spaces, create a voice for the voiceless and connect with people from across the world through art. I think being an artist creates a unique opportunity to shape and bring life to my narratives through a contemporary lens

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Understanding our past is a necessary step to begin crafting a future that encourages critical thought. Across history, art has been used as a critical tool to push narratives and ideologies. I hope my works blur the lines and boundaries that separate us to create communities and take you to places you can only imagine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michaeldika.com/
• Instagram: Mcmichaeldika
• Facebook: Dika michael Dela
• Linkedin: Michael Dela Dika

Image Credits
Image 2, Image 3 Photo credit Joseph Hu