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Hi, I'm Esther and I love blending my two worlds of African and contemporary Western influences to create earthy natural tone art.

My name is Esther Maxwell-Orumbie and welcome to Emmanuel Designs.

I was born in Birkenhead England to West African parents. I spent several years in Freetown Sierra Leone where my son was born. I also had the privilege to live in other African countries.

I spent a few years studying fine arts in New York and North Carolina in America. In my early twenties I returned to Freetown, Sierra Leone where I continued my art practice.

Due to the lack of studio space, I work in my living room. This however does not daunt me but gives me the incentive to push on. I have sold my work in the US, West Africa and Britain. The first art work that I sold was at the age of eighteen to one of the trustees of Bennett College in North Carolina where I was attending. The piece was a silkscreen print entitled 'Nefertitti'.

A lot of my influences derived from the bonds of motherhood. The inseparable ties that have lead us through mountainous heights of adversity and oceans of joy and happiness. The cultures of the world also strongly influence my work however my foundations are strongly influenced by the African diaspora which open the senses, which ignite the memories of my childhood.

My mediums are mainly pencils and pens, linocuts and fabrics (for appliqué). Recently I have been working more with pencils and pens. I love working with earthy tones and utilise a minimalist style. I love how a minimalist simplified piece can be the most eye catching, strongest statement in a busy environment. I find the peace that this brings matches my art and matches me and I use my Western and African upbringing to create a fusion that tells my story.

I love my African heritage which I blend with my Western upbringing and informs much of my art practice. I wish to share my heritage via my art and hopefully others will come to see and know what an incredibly rich, vibrant and beautiful heritage it is

ESTHER
EMMANUEL DESIGNS

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