Kaleeka Bond

Art is where I release emotion and speak beyond words. Through portraiture, symbolism, pattern, and material, my work explores identity, cultural memory, belonging, and the ways we carry our histories with us. My story began in Virginia, but my understanding of identity has continued to expand through the places and people that have shaped my life. Marriage to my Ghanaian husband and repeated visits to Ghana have deeply influenced my work and worldview. Experiencing the traditions and cultural pride there made me think more intentionally about ancestry, legacy, family, and what we pass on. My work brings these experiences together. I am interested in the space between cultures and generations, and in how Black identity can hold many histories at once. Through my figures, I explore strength, vulnerability, memory, and the ongoing process of understanding where we come from and who we become. Kaleeka Bond was born in Virginia and grew up in Southern California. She received her BFA in 2006 and her MFA in 2008 from Laguna College of Art and Design (LCAD) in Laguna Beach, CA and has been exhibiting her work regularly for 18+ years. After obtaining her MFA, Kaleeka went on to teach drawing and painting at numerous colleges throughout Southern California. She currently teaches five classes and owns multiple businesses, while continuing to exhibit her work. Alongside her husband, Harith, Kaleeka owns and operates an apparel line, Adinkra Stitch. Influenced by behaviors in society and the impingement of mass media, she hopes to counter the effects of these disconnections with social awareness through her artwork. When interviewed about her work, Kaleeka stated; “Art has a way of opening our eyes to things that we refuse to see. I want my work to compel people to see beyond the superficial and seek the profound, ultimately allowing them to live beyond what they think of as the obvious and understand that individualism and the ability to communicate shape the uniqueness of the world.”