I am Keisha Makonese, a Black American mixed media artist raised in Denver, Colorado, since the age of three. My work incorporates texture, fabric, acrylic, wire, filament, and found materials that create a foundation for expression. Through layering and assemblage, I explore stories, emotions, memories, and experiences that invite viewers to look beyond the surface.
My connection to the Colorado Black Arts Festival began more than 30 years ago as a young artist searching for acceptance, inspiration, and connection within a community of Black American artists. The festival introduced me to a vibrant network of culture bearers, storytellers, and visionaries whose presence affirmed the importance of our voices, creativity, and artistic expression. After dedicating many years to raising my family, I returned to my artistic practice and have participated consistently in the festival since 2018.
Having grown up in Denver, the Colorado Black Arts Festival holds a special place in my heart. It is more than an arts festival. It is a celebration of culture, heritage, creativity, and community. Being recognized as a Featured Artist during the festival’s 40th Anniversary celebration is a deeply meaningful honor.
This recognition represents not only my personal journey as an artist but also the continuation of a family legacy. My great-grandmother, Flora Carnell Lewis Washington, was an artist whose work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1939. Her accomplishments continue to inspire me, and I am proud to carry forward a legacy of artistic expression, perseverance, and cultural storytelling. As I stand here today as a Featured Artist, I often reflect on her journey and hope that through my work I am honoring her memory and making her proud.
This year, through my Black Out, Untangling, and Give Us Our Flowers series, I contribute to the exhibition theme, Through Our Eyes. These works explore visibility, healing, recognition, and what it means to be seen in a world that often overlooks us. They speak to the process of unraveling the burdens we carry and the importance of acknowledging the value, beauty, strength, and contributions of Black people while we are here to receive our flowers.
Through my eyes, art is both an act of remembrance and a call for recognition. It is a way to honor my ancestors, celebrate my community, and create space for future generations to see themselves reflected in stories of possibility, perseverance, and hope. Participating in the Colorado Black Arts Festival has come full circle for me, from a young Black American artist seeking acceptance and community to a Featured Artist sharing my voice, experiences, and perspective. For that, I am deeply grateful.