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The Inspiration
This fall, step into a new series that invites you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what sustains you. In Search of Sanctuary is about carving out moments of stillness, beauty, and belonging in a world that often keeps us in a state of hurry.
Nature softens us. And it steadies us.
It reminds us to slow down. To notice. To hold close what matters most.
And this body of work is rooted in that dual nature of sanctuary: both refuge and renewal. It’s inspired by moments of stillness in the woods of the Midwest, long hikes in Hawaii where silence feels like a companion, and the small sacred spaces we carve out in the middle of everyday chaos.
Whether you’re seeking rest or renewal, I hope you discover your own reflection in the new early fall collection In Search of Sanctuary.
Akwi has recently exhibited paintings at:
Meet the Artist
Akwi is a Cameroonian-American artist and author based in the United States. She creates contemporary abstract art inspired by nature and our human quest for harmony and belonging.
Her 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.
Akwi has been creating for almost two decades through words (sometimes on the stage), film, poetry, and paintings. She was named Iowa's Poet of the Year in 2024 and received the Governor's Emerging Arts Leader award in 2025.
But her biggest honor is creating art for homes and businesses just like yours.