CREATIVE PRACTICE MAKES PURPOSE.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY DESIGNER. CONCEPT HAIR ARTIST. STRATEGIST. CONSULTANT. COMMUNITY BUILDER. CHANGEMAKER.
I am Asia Clarke.
[+] A multidisciplinary creative with a passion for transforming hair, jewelry, beauty, and styling.
[+] A researcher, forecaster, strategist, freelance writer and community builder.
I am a Canadian born Afro-Caribbean artist, living between in Toronto, Canada and Accra, Ghana. I am passionate about re-envisioning futures and helping communities, clients and brands to envision and actualize their creativity. I use research as the foundation for my professional and creative works.
MULTIFACETED. TALENTED. RECOGNIZED.
Hair styling: My work has been published worldwide and featured in major publications such as Vogue Netherlands, Vogue Italy, Bubblegum Club South Africa, GQ Middle East, Citizen Mag, Wall Street Journal and Dazed Magazine. My clients have included brands such as Burberry, Eytys, Osei Duro, Kendrick Lamar/PG Lang, Free The Youth Ghana, and Daily Paper.
Jewelry and Costume Design: I am a trained jewelry designer with over 10 years experience running my jewelry brand, Wild Moon Jewelry. Beginning as a hobby in 2011, Wild Moon Jewelry has been worn on the necks of many. With over 500 pieces sold, Wild Moon Jewelry has been featured in many leading publications such as The Fader, Elle Canada, Essence Magazine, and Afropunk Online. Wild Moon Jewelry has been worn by influential celebrities and international artists such as Michaela Coel and Ria Boss.
Consulting: With over 7 years of experience in international development, strategic foresight, and program evaluation and consulting, I have worked on economic empowerment and business development projects in Canada, Dominica, Trinidad, eSwatini and Ghana. I work closely with FromLater, a foresight studio based in Toronto, Canada. I also consult for the City of Toronto's Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, specifically with their Partnership Accountability Circle.
Education: I hold a Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation program from OCAD University. My thesis project "Grassroots Futures: Identifying Long-term Sustainability Solutions with Grassroots NGOs in Ghana" explores the potential future impact of digital economies and other global trends will have on Grassroots NGOs in Ghana and the communities they serve.
Projects: Wild Moon Jewelry | VERN | Diaspora for Equitable Progress (DEPAfrica) | Hot Ohemaa Hotline | Strands & Structures
Press: TORONTO STAR | THE FADER | AFROPUNK | CBC RADIO | URBANOLOGY | GUAP MAG | TRYBE AFRICA | PAUSE MAG
Awards: 2022 Toronto Arts Council Black Arts Grant | 2020 Skills and Career Development OAC Grant | 2017 Skills and Career Development OAC Grant | 2015 OCIC Global Changemaker | 2014 Youth Arts Pitch Contest Winner
For more examples of my written work, visit the medium journal.
HEAR MY STORY.
"RETURN TO SOURCE" PODCAST S1EP2: ASIA CLARKE
In this episode of RETURN TO SOURCE, podcast host Araba Ofori-Acquah speaks to Asia Clarke, a multidisciplinary artist and the creatrix behind Wild Moon. This episode is filled with gems for Black creatives, any Diasporans thinking of visiting or moving to the continent and people interested in African spirituality. They discuss:
- Is Pan-Africanism a myth?
- The privilege of knowing where you’re from/your heritage
- How to create from a place of vulnerability and authenticity
- Asia's experiences of motherhood - from her grandmother’s presence to her mother’s affirmations to her pregnancy journey
DECONSTRUCTING DEVELOPMENT
"Structural adjustment plans... led to the growth of the NGO model of creating social safety nets in many African countries. The problem with this though, is many NGOs, whether local or international, depend on donations and funders. And that funding landscape has become more and more competitive."
- Asia Clarke for the 2021 Futures Festival, APF
ON GHANA, MY NEW HOME
"Ghana my new home" is a series of short documentary portraying different people in Ghana who decided to take the big step, move to Ghana and make the best out of it with their creative, innovative projects/businesses. EP 18 features Asia Clarke, a creative artist who is becoming well known in Ghana. Check out Anaieta (Anahita Eskandari) Youtube Channel for this story.
DESIGNING DIFFERENTLY
"Wild Moon Jewelry, for me, is always evolving into something better than it was before. I think that aligning myself with true eco-conscious or eco-fashion, I feel like my soul is going in that direction."
- Asia Clarke