ADEYINKA PERRY

Adeyinka Osijemi Perry, who is called Perry, was born and raised in NYC. He explores his ancestry by telling stories of his African and Caribbean roots. He sees his artwork as adding to the folklore of his people. Perry’s art is about how things might have been, his heartfelt connection to those who came before him, and those who helped shape him into the person he is today.

Perry began his artistic journey with HAI at the age of nineteen. He has said, as times
changed when he was growing up, drawing was a way to make sense of things. He believes that his artwork has expanded his mind, stabilized his life and given him confidence. In his own words "I like to draw and paint, because it helps me express what II’m thinking about. It helps me have a free-hand in what I want to say."

Perry views his art as a visual link in the diaspora of people of color. His peers with similar cultural roots are reconnected to the African and Caribbean and their past through his art: They tell stories and reminisce when viewing his art. Perry researches his cultural heritage at museums, the library, through observations on the streets of New York City, and with memories of his visits to Jamaica as a child.