Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In conversation with
Rasta Roba
Rasta Roba is an Iraqi-Canadian multidisciplinary artist based in Accra, Ghana, whose practice explores the unseen relationships between ancestry, spirituality, ritual, and the natural world. Working across painting, sculptural objects, and mixed media, she creates symbolic works that function as offerings, inviting the collective into spaces where memory, ancestry, and the sacred converge.
Rooted in their Hindu spiritual practice while drawing inspiration from Mesopotamian heritage, autochthonous languages, Indigenous teachings encountered during their upbringing in Canada, and the living traditions of West Africa, Rasta Roba's work examines how ancient wisdom continues to shape contemporary identity. Their recurring visual language, a hybrid of spiritual figures and elements, reflects themes of transformation, divine balance, ancestral remembrance, and the invisible currents that connect all living beings.
Their creative process is guided by meditation, ritual, and intuitive mark-making. Rather than beginning with fixed compositions, they approach each piece as a living conversation, allowing forms to emerge organically as expressions of spiritual insight and collective memory. Many of their pieces incorporate a layering of narratives that bridge cultures while honouring both personal and collective histories.
Living and working in Ghana has profoundly deepened Rasta Roba's relationship with the 5 elements (water, earth, air, fire & aether), as a sacred vessel of memory, cleansing, and ancestral presence. This evolving dialogue with the elements has become central to their practice, informing works that contemplate healing, devotion, and humanity's connection to the natural and spiritual worlds.
Through their work, Rasta Roba invites viewers not simply to observe, but to reflect, remember, and reconnect with the ancient knowledge carried within themselves and the world around them.
From:
Ghana/Canada
Artist Statement
Rasta Roba's practice is rooted in the belief that art is not created, but encountered. Each work begins as an act of listening which creates a dialogue between memory, spirit, ancestry, and the living world. Through painting, sculptural objects, and mixed media, Rasta Roba creates symbolic works that exist between the visible and invisible, inviting the collective into spaces where the sacred is experienced rather than explained.
An Iraqi-Canadian artist living and working in Accra, Ghana, Rasta Roba's practice has been shaped by the convergence of multiple cultural and spiritual landscapes. Drawing from Mesopotamian heritage, Hindu philosophies, and the Indigenous teachings and artistic traditions encountered while growing up on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations, the Tsuut'ina Nation, and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, alongside the living knowledge of Ghana, Rasta Roba's practice does not seek to separate these influences. Instead, they converge into a shared visual language that explores transformation, devotion, ancestral memory, and humanity's enduring relationship with the natural world. The visual storytelling, symbolism, and reverence for the interconnectedness of spirit, land, and community found within many Indigenous artistic traditions have profoundly informed the way Rasta Roba approaches image-making, not as decoration, but as a vessel for knowledge, memory, and ceremony.
Rasta Roba's creative process is deeply intuitive and ritualistic. Works often begin with meditation, prayer, or quiet contemplation before the surface is allowed to guide the image into being. Rather than following predetermined compositions, forms are revealed through instinct, gesture, and layered materiality. It is their visual languages that communicates beyond words, inviting contemplation rather than certainty.
Each piece is approached as an offering rather than an object, an offering to ancestors, to the collective, and to the unseen forces that continue to shape human existence. Rather than presenting definitive answers, the work creates spaces for reflection, encouraging viewers to reconnect with the wisdom carried within the earth, the five elements, and themselves. Through this practice, Rasta Roba explores the possibility that art can function as ritual: a bridge between cultures, between histories, and between the visible world and the sacred dimensions that quietly exist alongside it.
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
I've always been a multidisciplinary creative with a deep desire to express myself through as many forms and mediums as possible. Whether it's painting, sculpture, writing, textiles, or other creative disciplines, I've never wanted to limit myself to a single way of making. I see every medium as another language through which I can communicate different parts of the human experience. Much of my work is informed by my own life. Every experience, conversation, place I've lived, and challenge I've encountered eventually finds its way into my practice. Creating has become a way of processing the world around me while also inviting others to reflect on their own experiences.
Although creativity has always been part of who I am, it was only within the last three years that I decided to pursue it professionally and fully dedicate myself to my artistic practice. I haven't attended a formal art school, and in many ways I'm grateful for that. My artistic voice has been shaped through lived experience, independent exploration, and an openness to learning from the people, cultures, and environments I've encountered throughout my life.
One of the greatest influences on my practice has been my background in psychology, alongside my spiritual path. Together they encourage me to look beyond the surface, exploring the subconscious, symbolism, ritual, and the emotional and spiritual dimensions of being human. I believe this combination has allowed me to develop a visual language that feels deeply personal and difficult to define, one that reflects not only what I see, but how I experience the world.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
I think of my practice as an act of translation. There are spiritual experiences that cannot always be communicated through language, so I translate them into symbols, textures, and forms. Every piece becomes a conversation between intuition and intention. I don't approach the canvas with the goal of illustrating an idea. Instead, I create space for something to emerge. The work often reveals itself gradually, becoming a record of a spiritual dialogue rather than a predetermined composition.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
One of the ideas I return to most is remembrance. I am interested in how people remember who they are beyond identity, nationality, or religion. My work explores ancestry, devotion, transformation, and the invisible relationships that exist between people, nature, and the spiritual world. I'm also fascinated by symbols that have appeared across cultures for thousands of years. These forms seem to carry a shared human language that transcends geography. I enjoy exploring how these symbols continue to evolve while remaining deeply relevant today.
What inspires your creative process?
More than anything, my creative process is inspired by my own continuous evolution. I don't see growth as something with a final destination. Every transformation reveals another layer of understanding, another version of myself to meet, and another opportunity to create from a deeper place. My work becomes a visual record of that journey. As I evolve spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually, so does my art.
A profound source of inspiration is my relationship with my ancestors, Source, my spirit guides, and my Hindu spiritual practice. They ground me in the understanding that I am part of something far greater than myself. Through meditation, ritual, prayer, and reflection, I create space to listen rather than control, allowing each work to emerge through intuition rather than expectation.
I'm fascinated by the idea that we are never truly finished. Every experience adds another layer to who we are, and every layer carries its own wisdom. Rather than trying to arrive at a final version of myself, I embrace the endless process of becoming. That philosophy is woven into everything I create. My work isn't simply a reflection of who I am today; it's a record of every version of myself that has existed, while leaving space for the versions that are still waiting to emerge.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
Recently, I've been developing a body of work centred around water as both a physical and spiritual archive. Living beside the Atlantic Ocean in Ghana has transformed the way I think about water, not simply as an element, but as something that carries memory, ancestry, movement, and sound. Several recent works explore marine beings such as whales as ancient messengers, reflecting on the idea that knowledge can be transmitted through vibration rather than speech. This series has become an exploration of listening: listening to history, to nature, and to the quiet forms of communication that often go unnoticed.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
One of the greatest challenges has been learning to trust intuition over expectation. There have been many moments where creating work that feels spiritually honest meant stepping away from trends or what might be considered commercially safe. Living between cultures has also shaped my perspective. It has taught me that identity is rarely singular and that existing between different worlds can become a source of strength rather than uncertainty. Those experiences have encouraged me to make work that embraces complexity instead of simplifying it.
What role does art play in your life today?
Art is woven into every part of my life. It influences the way I travel, the way I learn, the conversations I have, and even the way I move through everyday experiences. More than a profession, it has become a lifelong practice of observation and reflection. It continually reminds me that creativity isn't separate from living; it is a way of paying attention.
What are you currently working on?
At the moment I'm expanding my exploration of water, memory, and ritual through a new collection of paintings and sculptural works. I'm also interested in experimenting with larger-scale installations and incorporating more natural materials that have their own histories and symbolic presence. Alongside my studio practice, I'm continuing to build opportunities for artistic exchange through workshops and collaborative projects that connect communities through creativity.
What are your future goals as an artist?
While I hope to continue exhibiting internationally, collaborating across cultures, and expanding my own artistic practice, my greatest aspiration extends far beyond my individual career. I believe artists carry a responsibility not only to share knowledge, but to make their energy, presence, and lived experiences available to their communities. Art has the power to shape worldviews, nurture empathy, preserve culture, and inspire future generations. Because of that, I don't see creativity as something that should exist exclusively within galleries or private collections; it should also exist in spaces where people can gather, learn, question, and discover themselves.
Living in Ghana has made me increasingly aware of the importance of accessible, community-centred creative spaces, particularly for young people and emerging artists. While there is extraordinary talent and cultural richness, I've also seen how many aspiring creatives have limited opportunities to consistently access spaces where they can experiment, receive mentorship, learn new skills, and be exposed to diverse artistic ideas and perspectives. Those experiences have reinforced my belief that creativity flourishes most when communities are given the freedom and support to explore it.
One of my long-term goals is to establish a permanent creative space that feels like an extension of myself, my studio, my values, and my energy. I envision it as more than a place to make art. I want it to be a living environment where people of all ages can create, learn, collaborate, exhibit, and feel supported in discovering their own creative voices. If my practice can inspire others to believe that their imagination has value, then I believe my work will have served a purpose far greater than anything I could achieve alone.
Where can readers follow your work?
Readers can follow my artistic journey on Instagram through @rastaroba and @rastaroba.art, where I share new works, works in progress, exhibitions, collaborations, and glimpses into my creative process.
For more comprehensive updates, including upcoming exhibitions, projects, publications, workshops, and new collections,readers can also visit my websitewhich serves as the central archive of my evolving practice and will be updated regularly as my journey continues.
