Introduction

 

Keita Annie Whitten Foster is an accomplished interdisciplinary artist residing in Maine, known for her vibrant, textured mixed-media creations. Her artistic practice is deeply influenced by her lived experiences and is guided by a distinctive method she refers to as Soul Mapping. This process merges intentional personal reflection with creative exploration, allowing Keita to chart the emotional and spiritual landscapes she has encountered throughout her life and translate them powerfully into her art.

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Background and Artistic Heritage

Originally hailing from New York City, Keita Annie Whitten Foster’s creative journey is rooted in a rich lineage of skilled artisans. This heritage of craftsmanship and creativity forms the foundation of her diverse artistic practice. Keita’s talents extend far beyond visual art, encompassing a wide range of disciplines that reflect both her technical proficiency and emotional depth.

 

She is a skilled writer, somatic liberation dance DJ, singer-songwriter, radio show producer, and hand-builder of Sea Goddess. As a founding member of the Brooklyn Immersionists movement, she draws on her background in performance art to enrich her storytelling and inform her unique sculptural techniques. This multidisciplinary expertise allows Keita to infuse her creations with compelling narratives and innovative approaches.

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Signature Works and Themes

Among Keita’s most celebrated creations are her mixed-media DownEast series, which draws inspiration from the rugged coastline of Maine, and the “Sacred Gems” collection. These works are noted for their layered textures and vivid color palettes. The “Sacred Gems” series is intentionally crafted on a smaller scale, designed to be both functional and portable, thus facilitating healing through art in an accessible way.

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Central Motif: Water Life Flow

Water -Life -Flow is a recurring theme throughout Keita’s body of work. In her art, the motif of water is imbued with cultural significance, referencing blessings, cleansing, renewal, sustenance, beauty, fertility, protection, and healing. This thematic focus underscores her commitment to exploring the elemental forces that shape both individual and collective experience.

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Creative Process: Call-and-Response

Keita’s approach to art is characterized by a call-and-response process that bridges multiple generations of artistic disciplines. This dynamic method is defined by continuous interaction—a creative dialogue—guided by ancestral wisdom, the expressive impulses of her Soul, and her unique capacity to foster healing through artistic expression. Through this living act of creation, Keita weaves the past and present into an ever-evolving narrative, transforming personal and shared experiences.

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Retrospective Artistic Journey

Keita Whitten Foster’s evolution as an artist traces a reflective path from the vibrant energy of New York City to the tranquil landscapes of Maine. Her journey began in Friendship, continued through Freeport, and ultimately brought her to Portland. There, she devoted over twenty years to raising her children as a single parent. Today, Keita’s home and studio are situated in the scenic Southwest Lakes region of Maine, serving as a foundation for her ongoing creative practice.

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Autobiographical Art through a Womanist Lens

Keita’s artwork is profoundly autobiographical, embodying a womanist perspective that captures her transformation across five decades of expressionism. The “womanist lens” in her work highlights matrifocal values, lived experiences, wisdom, and viewpoints of African Heritage women. This approach elevates themes of personal empowerment, collective healing, and social justice, all central to her creative vision.

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Thematic Reflections

The collection Keita has assembled stands as a luminous and hopeful testament to the human experience. Her art reflects humility, grace, and beauty as well as the challenges of adversity and aging. Throughout, she invokes a sense of divine power, weaving together elements that celebrate resilience and the profound capacity for growth and transformation.

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Somatic and Visceral Artistic Practice

Keita’s artistic work is deeply somatic and visceral, embodying her lifelong journey of exploration and discovery. Her creative process is profoundly influenced by her experiences, as evident in her most recent body of work, which reflects her sailing explorations along the ocean coves of Downeast Maine. These journeys have not only shaped her perspective but also informed the tactile, embodied quality present in her art.

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Commitment to Authenticity

In a contemporary craft landscape that is increasingly dominated by corporate influences, Keita remains steadfast in her dedication to authenticity and individuality. Her distinctive artistic methods and genuine approach pay homage to her creative heritage while emphasizing the emotional depth and originality that characterize her work. It is this sincerity and unique vision that distinguish Keita’s body of work, enabling her to honor her roots and make a lasting impact in contemporary art.