Mother of the Circle

Mother of the Circle is the foundation of Circles: The Geometry of Restoration, a series exploring healing, accountability, connection, and the restorative justice circle. The central figure represents the wisdom and strength of the women and ancestors who have carried communities through generations of struggle, healing, and transformation. Her presence within the circle symbolizes the idea that restoration begins with remembering where we come from and recognizing the relationships that connect us.

The piece also brings together Indigenous and African influences, reflecting the shared wisdom found in traditional circle practices and the African philosophy of Ubuntu—the belief that our humanity is connected to one another. The equation woven into the artwork represents the unseen relationships between people, energy, and experience. Mother of the Circle invites the viewer to see restoration not simply as repairing harm, but as reconnecting people to community, culture, history, and one another.