Ramekon O’Arwisters (he/him) is a visual and performing artist whose practice centers using crocheted fabric and zip ties to bind together broken and discarded ceramic shards. He also takes the salvaged materials and binds them to his body to make stunning self-portraits. Ramekon is also well-known throughout the Bay Area for his community engaged practice, called Crochet Jam. 

He left his hometown in North Carolina, moving to Tokyo, Japan and finally finding refuge in San Francisco in 1991. Seeking a safe place where his queer identity would be accepted and allowed to thrive. He states that over the years, “San Francisco became a sanctuary for me. I define ‘sanctuary’ as a place where one can be who they are. It is a place where one can become who they need to be.”

Ramekon says he makes art to be subversive, irreverent, political, and rebellious. He says creativity provides an avenue to never have to “play it safe, keep my head down, nor cheat, steal, lie, or conform.” You can see evidence of these sentiments when viewing his artworks which are free form and seem to defy the pull of gravity. He describes his work as bizarre, otherworldly, and seductive. 

You can catch Ramekon’s next institutional exhibition at Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles,opening January 2025. He is also a regularly exhibited artist at Patricia Sweetow Gallery. 

Discover more of Ramekon’s work in today's story curated by Demetri Broxton 🎨 For the month of February, Demetri curated "We The Artists" to spotlight standout Bay Area Black artists.

Featured image credit: 1. Photography by David Schmitz. All rest is attributed to Ramekon O’Arwisters.

Feature Published: February 16, 2024
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