ABOUT

Grounded & Free was birthed from a research paper by multidisciplinary artist Malene Barnett, seeking to connect West African pottery traditions to Jamaican ceramics from the 18th century. During her research, Malene reimagined clay as a tool for liberation for enslaved women because even under bondage, pottery provided moments to feel "grounded and free." Grounded & Free spotlights African-Caribbean makers and their diaspora. We seek to tell a visually informed story that highlights the lives of the maker and the objects they produce. Our goal is to ignite dialogues of inclusive craft histories and provide resources for ceramicists, clay enthusiasts, textile artists, woodworkers, educators, curators, and beyond.

 

OUR MISSION

Grounded & Free documents and preserves the visual and material culture of the African-Caribbean makers, and its diaspora to build inclusive craft histories.

 

Cecil Baugh, Egyptian Blue vessel

“It’s important we tell our story, documentation is the action needed to keep us informed.”


— Malene Barnett, Founder of GroundedandFree.info

OUR VISION

We envision a world where ceramic artists, textile artists, scholars, curators, and art enthusiasts engage in inclusive craft history dialogues.

OUR FOUNDER

Malene Barnett is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, ceramicist, and textile designer, based in Brooklyn, New York. She is also the founder of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, a curated collective of independent black artists, makers, and designers.

Malene is interested in finding ways to define the black narrative while raising awareness about racial inequality in America. Her artistic practice is inseparable from her work as an activist. Through her sculptural ceramic tiles and vessels, mixed media paintings and handwoven rugs, she shares her African heritage with a global audience. She has been featured in publications like New York Magazine and Elle Decor, and has been invited to speak by MSNBC and TEDx. Malene’s clients include Marriott, Viacom, Saks, WeWork, Avalon Communities, and the MetLife Building.