Blackbirds is a collection inspired by the Mapiko masks of West Africa—particularly Liberia—and draws heavily from the distinctive African art collection of Bill and Michelle Lerach in La Jolla, California. I’ve reimagined these spiritual forms through the lens of crystalline textures and black mineral structures, creating sculptural works that embody both reverence and transformation. Initiated two years ago, this body of work now anchors a broader conversation around the erasure of African art and studies from educational spaces. Blackbirds is both tribute and protest—an artistic call to preserve cultural history and reinvest in the knowledge passed down to future generations.