We had the good fortune of connecting with Lee Edwards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lee, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
My favorite affirmation is “honor your path and respect your journey”. A friend gave me this advice after I had graduated college in 2015, and it has stuck with me ever since. This quote grounds me in the present, and reaffirms the confidence I have behind my choice making in all aspects of my life. It reminds me that my path is for me, and that journey out weights the destination.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Throughout my career as an artist, the most important thing I have learned is to trust in, and explore my ideas. This lesson has brought me to my current art practice which is stepped in the completion of my MFA in Dance and graduate certificate in African and African American Studies, at Duke University. My primary modes of making are through dance, poetry, and video. My current work navigates the space between past and present through the centering of Black realities, stories, and experiences. I am currently most excited for my upcoming MFA thesis installation in February 2022.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I currently live in Durham. NC if my best friend were to visit here are the places and events we would hit up:

Hike at the Eno
Brunch at Dames Chicken and Waffels
Shop at Durham Farmers market
Walk through Black Wall Street
Visit the Nasher Museum
Drinks at Flying Bull Brewery
The Conjure Party at the Durham Fruit
Waffle House

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shoutout Yasmin Venable for nominating me for this interview! I would also like to shoutout the people in my life who have continuously supported, encouraged, and held me down: my parents, sister, family, Duke MFA family, Mount Vernon squad, Philly friends, and collaborators of the last two years.

Website: leeedwards.org

Instagram: withloveleeee

Linkedin: Lee Edwards

Image Credits
TP Photography (blue jumpsuit outfit) Brandon Wyche Photography (black and white photos) Isadora Paixao (blue suit photo)

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.