About Me

I'm Jacob Serekede (sair-uh-KED-ee), an artist and designer born in Schenectady, New York in 2004. My creative journey began when I received my first sketchbook at three years old. I spent countless hours drawing cartoon characters from memory and creating my own characters, worlds, and stories. Those early explorations sparked a lifelong passion for visual storytelling and artistic expression.

After earning my BFA in Graphic Design from SUNY Oswego, I continued building on a creative identity that first began to take shape during my second year of college. It was then that I started developing KEDE (KED-ee), an evolving body of work rooted in observation, humor, and human experience. Working with colored pencil, acrylic, marker, and ink, I use texture and intricate detail to create expressive images that feel animated and alive.

My work is shaped by close observation of everyday life and the emotions, contradictions, and shared experiences that connect us all. Influenced by cartoons, surrealism, and the strange beauty of being human, I create work that embraces individuality and collective consciousness. Through KEDE, my goal is to inspire others to remain curious, expressive, and committed to developing a voice that is uniquely their own. I believe art is more than something to look at. It is a way of understanding ourselves, connecting with others, and celebrating the endless creativity that makes us human.