ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER BIO

Rikiesha Metzger is an International Community Artist-Philosopher and a graduate of the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts, where she earned her PhD in philosophy, aesthetics, and art theory. Her academic background includes bachelor’s degrees from NC A&T State University and Morgan State University, and a master’s from Maryland Institute College of Art, which speaks to her dedication as a lifelong learner in the arts and education.

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Her work explores the intersections of race, community, and spirituality through her framework called Black Artistic Thought, which centers the lived experiences of Black women artists and thinkers, revealing how they express the spiritual through art. Working across sculpture, installation, performance, quilting, painting, and papercut art, Metzger uses her creative practice as a space for healing, remembering, and reimagining.

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A recurring theme in her work is the symbolism of sunrays, children, and circles, which represent divine presence, light, hope, and a continuation of life. In this sense, her practice creates a space for reflection, connection, storytelling, and relatability throughout different communities. Through mothering, teaching, research, and art-making, she is committed to uplifting the voices and brilliance of Black women artists and thinkers while nurturing collective wellness and cultivating a shared spiritual sensibility across humanity.