Fredricka Joyner is a mixed media artist residing in Indianapolis and the world. After completing an undergraduate degree in fine arts with a focus in ceramic sculpture, her creative energy turned to organization development and community formation and to building a professional and academic practice focused on facilitating change in organizations, fostering more inclusive and diverse communities and the development of effective leaders. The potential for using creativity to improve organizational and community life has been a key driver over the course of her career.

During those years, Joyner developed a jewelry practice – Max/Mix Jewelry – based on a design ethos of harmony through (not despite) diversity. She also continued her work as a ceramicist, building narrative mosaics. In the last decade, Joyner has stepped more fully into the studio, focusing on a 2D mixed media practice.

Artist Statement

My experience growing up in the Southwest has shaped a color palette – that is at the same time colorful and earthy – and my fascination with materiality. I build mixed media images using rich color, layers, patterns, reflections, manipulated photographs, topographical maps and thematic cartography. The connection of my professional focus on social imbalances, inequities and environmental issues has become a core and integrative part of my art practice.

In the face of increasing polarization of our communities and social systems and ongoing environmental deterioration, the question I am currently exploring in my work is: How do we dismantle what is not working, take the components and build something new that we haven’t yet imagined?