Ato Ribeiro American, b. 1989

Ato Ribeiro is a multidisciplinary artist working in a variety of media including sculptural instillation, drawing and printmaking. Central to his art, his West African heritage and his African American identity. Ribeiro utilizes discarded materials—in a way individuals of African heritage have been treated throughout history, constructing the precious scraps together into geometric patterns that are recognizable as a language and - even hint at narrative, but confound the viewer because their specific code and meanings are not necessarily  decipherable. Ribeiro leaves the deciphering to the viewer, prodding them to look deeper- to find hidden details, or incite thought.

“The interests behind my creative practice stem from an urge to bridge my West African heritage with my African American identity. This research mines and honors a variety of shared and neglected histories in order to visually speak to a contemporary sense of cultural hybridity. By employing familiar practices— of collecting, joining and refining natural and repurposed materials— my wooden kente quilt works, mixed-media installations and prints provide educational opportunities to seek out new points of reference, while preserving layers of African cultural heritage and varying ethnic perspectives.”