In the next three podcasts, I’ll be sharing interviews I’ve done with some amazing creatives from different walks of life, including visionary designers and artists. To start us off, in May of this year, I had the privilege of sitting down in conversation with Fowokan George Kelly in his home.

Fowokan shared with me the story of his early years in Jamaica, his journey to the UK, and his evolution into the unique and celebrated sculptor he is today. He spoke about his love for music, once performing as a musician with legends like Jimmy Cliff, and his experiences traveling and meeting remarkable people along the way. Later, his wife Margaret joined us and shared insights from her book, ‘Becoming Fowokan: The Life and Works of Fowokan George Kelly’.

We delved into the significance of his artistic identity as "Fowokan," exploring how his work reflects cultural themes and personal resilience. Fowokan candidly addressed mental health in our discussion, highlighting how creativity, yoga and meditation play vital roles in his own well-being. As a sculpture enthusiast myself, I was captivated by the unique identity and story behind each of his pieces.

Above all, Fowokan and Margaret shared their vision for his legacy: to influence the future through his art and video recordings, leaving enduring “footprints” in public galleries and museums, in London and beyond, for generations to come. His work stands as evidence of what he accomplished, and as lasting proof that we, Black people, are here and our stories matter.