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Make Waves . Move Mountains
Water doesn’t just refresh us — it resets us.
It invites us to breathe differently. To pause. To begin again.
It's peaceful. It’s powerful.
It shapes canyons. Shifts tides. Moves mountains — one wave at a time.
This body of work is rooted in the dual nature of water: its calm and its force.
It’s also inspired by real-life summer memories at neighborhood pools, quiet lakes, backyard ponds, kayaking at dawn (or on a lunch break!), snorkeling in warm ocean currents.
And then there are the metaphorical tides.
The ones we move through in our lives — sometimes crashing and dramatic, other times gentle and steady.
But always moving, making waves that matter.
Challenging what needs to be challenged.
Helping others rise in the process.
Whether you're pushing back or forging ahead, I hope you enjoy the new summer collection Make Waves.
P.S. The collection's title comes from my own poem I wrote and performed several years ago for Women Lead Change: "Make waves, move mountains, shift tides..."
Akwi has recently exhibited at or worked with:
Hi there. I'm Akwi.
I'm a Cameroonian-American artist and writer based in the United States. I create contemporary abstract art inspired by nature and our human quest for harmony and belonging.
I started off as a language arts teacher at my alma mater! I loved inspiring confidence & well-being in my classroom and now I inspire it through my art.
I'm a mom and a self-taught artist. I was accepted into the MFA program at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago and took a couple semesters of classes, but -- even with a generous Merit Scholarship -- it was simply too costly so I hit the pause button on that pursuit.
My abstract paintings are both a celebration of nature’s power and our human connection to the natural world. They reflect the courage it takes to navigate significant change and the joy of carving new paths.
I've been creating for almost two decades through words (sometimes on the stage), film, poetry, and paintings. I've been recently honored as the Poet of the Year and with the Governor's Emerging Arts Leader award in the state of Iowa.
But my biggest honor is creating art for homes and businesses just like yours. I hope my art inspires you, moves you, brings you joy.