Oami Powers is a visual artist based in North Carolina whose work explores themes of memory, nostalgia, grief, and the shifting nature of identity. Raised in California and New Zealand, her experiences of cultural transition deeply influence her practice, which she describes as a process of seeking self-understanding and a sense of belonging.
Powers holds a B.A. in Art History and Classical Studies from the University of Canterbury. In 2018, she was selected as the North Carolina Emerging Artist in Residence at Artspace in Raleigh. Her work has been shown in solo and juried group exhibitions nationwide and is part of collections including that of Duke Energy. Powers has also refined her craft through workshops at institutions like Penland School of Craft, Anderson Ranch, and with artist Cristina Cordova.
Since 2020, Powers has focused almost exclusively on clay, captivated by the material’s tactile qualities. “I am deeply fascinated by this ancient and humble medium which at its core requires just three elements—mud, hands, and fire. Wet clay has a tenderness, and fired clay a bony-ness, that has a lovely resonance with the ideas central to my work: the vulnerability and resilience inherent in the human experience.”
