Hannah Dufie Sakyiama, who grew up in Kokomlemle in Accra, the capital of Ghana, is working toward her master’s degree in Jewelry and Metal Art at the University of Iowa. In 2014, she graduated with honors in Metal Product Design from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, which then offered her a year-long teaching assistant position to teach undergraduate students in both studio practice and theoretical knowledge.

Dufie has worked in jewelry and metalsmithing for nine years and counting. Known for exploring the ‘flexibility’ of metals, her principal theme is channeling her life experiences, particularly focusing on life’s “beautiful fragrances.” Her optimistic and open-minded perspective allows her to discuss life’s surprises and realities, using metals as a medium.

She integrates contemporary visuals in her pieces, employing various metal techniques that complement her works. Her recent work connects the imagery of the weave of the spider web, the metamorphosis of the butterfly, and the traditional ‘kente’ cloth from Ghana (itself inspired by the spider web). She uses these concepts to tell her audience that there’s beauty in life after hard work, trials, and setbacks.

Dufie does not limit her artwork to metals. Rather, she integrates other media into her work to show the diversity of life from different angles. That includes writing—she has a blog, (https://lifemysteriesandken.wordpress.com), where she expresses her hopefulness and confidence in life.