Portland-born artist Penda Diakité discusses her upcoming solo exhibition "Bokolo Roots" at Nine Gallery in Portland, opening December 4, 2025. The installation-based show explores bicultural identity through her lived experience between Mali and America, featuring ceramic clay sculptures created through a hands-on process involving plaster molds. Diakité previously exhibited at the Portland Art Museum in the group show "Black Artists of Oregon."
The exhibition matters because it highlights the work of a Black woman artist returning to her hometown to share deeply personal work about ancestral roots and self-discovery. Diakité emphasizes the importance of inspiring young Black girls to see themselves in the art world, and her focus on allowing viewers to form their own connections with the work reflects a thoughtful, inclusive approach to art-making. The show is free and open to the public, making it accessible to the local community.