A Conversation with Kwame Asante
Visual artist, community builder, and founder of The Bridge Collective in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward.
Q: What drew you to Atlanta as a creative base?
Atlanta has this energy that's hard to find anywhere else. There's a community here that lifts you up while pushing you forward. When I moved from Accra, I was looking for a place that felt like home but also challenged me to grow. Atlanta was that place.
Q: How does the Diaspora influence your work?
Every piece I create is a conversation with my ancestors. I use traditional Kente patterns in my installations, but I reinterpret them through the lens of the American South. It's about bridging two worlds that are actually one.
Q: What's next for The Bridge Collective?
We're launching a residency program for artists from the continent to come work in Atlanta for three months. The exchange goes both ways — our local artists will travel to Accra, Lagos, and Nairobi.
