Carried in Clay, Light and Line:
Three artists explore legacy, identity and transformation through photography, ceramics and visual storytelling at Wa Na Wari’s New Summer Exhibition
Wa Na Wari is pleased to announce its upcoming summer exhibition featuring the work of three powerful and visionary artists: Jasmine Clarke, Sanjo Lawal, and Kristen Stain. Opening to the public on Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 6-8 PM, the reception will include live music and refreshments. Admission to this exhibition is free to the public. Donations are suggested and tax deductible.
Running through September 21, 2025, the exhibition offers three distinct solo presentations that explore themes of ancestral memory, cultural identity and transformation through visual storytelling. Rather than presenting a single curatorial narrative, this season’s exhibit centers the individual voices and visions of each artist.
“ I see memory and family as fragmented, pieced together through images, telling multiple overarching narratives of cultural identity, mythology passed down through generations. Myths, like photographs, exist somewhere between truth and fabrication, exactly where I position myself as an artist.”, shares Jasmine Clarke, a presenting artist for the exhibition.
As part of Wa Na Wari’s ongoing efforts to ensure the arts continue to hold vital space in Seattle’s Central District, this exhibition invites the public into an immersive, multidisciplinary experience of Black cultural expression - asking each visitor to explore to discover common themes that reflect threads of both cultural and human experiences.
“Our hope for each of our exhibitions is that visitors experience a deep sense of connection to the work, to the artists, and to each of the stories being told through the art. It’s great when people walk away with new perspectives - that’s a win, I think. Ultimately, defining art isn’t our goal, but we acknowledge that as stewards of artistic expression, we witness its power to transform, shape, and mold us. We hold this truth close as we curate each show with care, intention, and a commitment to honoring the voices and visions that reflect the richness of Black cultural life.”, explains Elisheba Johnson, Wa Na Wari Curator and Co-Founder.
This exhibition continues Wa Na Wari’s mission of cultivating space for Black art and storytelling in Seattle’s Central District. Through photography, sculpture, and social practice, Clarke, Lawal, and Stain offer expansive visions of the Black experience across the diaspora - inviting visitors into dialogue, deep reflection, and celebration.
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Featured Exhibitions and Artists
Kristen Stain | Exhibition Title - Selected Works
Working primarily in ceramics, Kristen Stain (they/she) bridges their West African and Caribbean heritage with their background in illustration and product design. Their work investigates identity through clay, community ritual, and ancestral memory – shaped by a commitment to social practice and education. Stain is the founder of Black Clay, a workshop series for Black makers, and a steward of Aroko Cooperative, a design collective for Black liberation.
Website | Instagram
Artist Talk at Wa Na Wari: August 14, 12 PM (viewable on Wa Na Wari’s YouTube page)
Jasmine Clarke | Exhibition Title - Every Shore
Jasmine Clarke, a Brooklyn-born photographer and MFA candidate at the Yale School of Art, uses deceptively clear images to explore the myths and mysteries of home and family. Her work has been widely exhibited across major institutions including The Brooklyn Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, and Photoville. Clarke’s photography invites viewers to contemplate the emotional terrain of belonging and the echoes of generational memory.
Website | Instagram
Artist Talk at Wa Na Wari: August 21, 12 PM (viewable on Wa Na Wari’s YouTube page)
Sanjo Lawal | Exhibition Title - Heavy is the Head
Award-winning Nigerian photographer and multidisciplinary artist Sanjo Lawal presents Heavy is the Head, a visual meditation on dignity, cultural weight, and transformation. Known for his richly symbolic portraits and recognition across Africa and Europe, Lawal’s work centers Yoruba tradition while pushing the boundaries of contemporary African visual storytelling.
Instagram
Artist Talk at Wa Na Wari: September 11, 12 PM (viewable on Wa Na Wari’s YouTube page)
About Wa Na Wari | Nestled in a fifth-generation Black-owned home in Seattle’s Central District, Wa Na Wari is more than a gallery - it’s a living testament to Black resilience, artistic creativity, and belonging. Born from a vision to reclaim space in a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood, Wa Na Wari weaves together art, memory, and community through exhibitions, public events, and grassroots organizing. Each of these efforts are activated in an effort to preserve rich, Black cultural legacy while forging new paths for intergenerational connection and artistic expression. In a time of widespread displacement, Wa Na Wari stands as both sanctuary and site of resistance - where Black land, Black stories, and Black futures are nurtured and celebrated. Learn more about Wa Na Wari and this exhibit at www.wanawari.org/events.
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EXHIBITION & TALK DETAILS
Presenting artists: Jasmine Clarke, Sanjo Lawal and Kristen Stain
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 2nd 6pm-8pm
Live music and refreshments
Exhibition Run:
August 2nd- September 21st 2025
Artist Talks:
Kristen Stain August 14th at 12pm
Jasmine Clarke August 21st at 12pm
Sanjo Lawal September 11th 12pm
All talks can be viewed on Wa Na Wari’s youtube page.
https://bit.ly/WNWYoutube
Full artist bios and other assets can be found here.
Also check out other Arts events in Seattle, Exhibitions in Seattle, Music events in Seattle.
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