Bey explores functional and ritual objects arts of the African and Oceanic diasporas and the materiality of clay metal wood and glass rejoicing in nature and aweHow does an artist connect their practice to their identity In what ways does an artist fulfill a social responsibility to their community These are the driving questions of Sharif Bey Excavations a publication inspired by the artists solo exhibition at Carnegie Museum of Art in his hometown of Pittsburgh. Through a series of autobiographical excavations highlighting seminal places peoples and experiences in his artistic journey Bey born 1974 explores themes of ancestral wisdom and diasporic identity while also reflecting on personal connections to museums and cultural organizations. The publication includes an introduction by Rachel Delphia Alan G.