Malene Barnett
Malene Djenaba Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, textile surface designer, and author of Crafted Kinship. Her work reflects her African Caribbean heritage, blending ceramics, textiles, and mark-making to explore ancestral legacy, identity, and diasporic traditions. Through exhibitions and residencies, Barnett’s art challenges conventional narratives, celebrating Black creativity and cultural resilience.
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Malene's Upcoming Workshops
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II
Level II
Students have a basic understanding of forming techniques, such as throwing and hand building. Students have taken one or two ceramics classes or workshops.
Aug 18 - 22, 2025
9AM-5PM
Patterns of Kinship: Connecting to Ancestry Through Surface Design in Clay
Malene Barnett
Tuition $1,390
Code C1215-25
This immersive surface pattern workshop explores the deep connections between heritage, identity, and design. Inspired by Barnett’s book, Crafted Kinship, this class guides students through creating meaningful patterns rooted in their ancestry and cultural history. Through hands-on work in clay, students uncover symbols, stories, and motifs passed down through generations, transforming them into a personal visual language. Together, students draw inspiration from personal experiences and subjects of interest, using surface design to honor and celebrate our collective creative heritage. Perfect for makers seeking to infuse their work with cultural significance.