SM: Can you share some insights into your artistic journey and how being queer has influenced your work?
SN: My artistic journey started as a curious child and tinkerer. I was always taking things apart and remaking them. My mom taught me to sew as a small girl and that’s where my love for textiles started. Now as an adult my artistic journey has coincided with my life experience. A divorce in my late 20’s really catapulted me into artwork and specifically the pro sexuality theme that most of my work contains. In my artworks, I’m drawn to portray bodies in their full autonomy and I take a lot of inspiration specifically from the empowered female form. My queerness is inclusive it helps me to find beauty and art in all types of subject matters.
SM: What is your creative process like, from conceptualization to the finished piece?
SN: My art is entirely referential. Every piece I make is inspired by an external source, usually a photo I’ve found on IG. The first part of my process is permission oriented- I find it so important to reach out to the people I portray in my works and make sure they are fully onboard with being referenced for art. Once consent is given I turn these inspiring photos into sketches and then turn the best sketches into embroideries. Sometimes the materials inspire the work, like when I find something interesting to sew into at a thrift store, and sometimes the subject matter drives the design choices. I ruminate a lot of the saying “The Process is yours, and the Outcome is not yours” as I work on different pieces. I know that the process of creation is the really joyful part of making for me, once a piece is finished and shown to the world, I relinquish ownership and control of how my work is perceived.
SM: You’ve done whimsical fashion design, illustration, mixed media embroidery and more- How has your style and approach evolved and what factors have contributed to your evolution?
SN: At the end of the day I just like keeping my hands busy. If I am able to take something I found and turn it into something with beauty and possibly some value, then I have had a successful day. I have always had an interest in fashion, sewing clothing from a young age and altering/ revamping thrift store finds. I also suffer them the “I want to do all the crafts” dilemma, so if there is an option to learn a new skill that I can then incorporate into some art then I’m going to take on the new skill and add it to my tool belt of knowledge. I’ve also been super fortunate to have a creative community around me that pushes me to learn new skills and make new and weirder things. Collaborating with fellow creatives is one of my favorite ways to learn new skills.
SM: Have you faced any challenges that have helped shape your art?
SN: I became really focused on my art while going through a divorce. I was thinking a lot about what solid communication and trust look like in relationships and how can I cultivate that in future relationships. A lot of what I was drawn to were Shibari dynamics, where trust and communication are essential for a safe and respectful time. It was just an added bonus that I got to incorporate knots and “rope” into my work already heavily focused on threads and textile elements.
SM: Where did you learn to make art, and what drew you to your medium and subjects? How do you choose your medium and technique for a particular piece?
SN: Both of my parents were incredibly influential in my processes of learning to make art. My mom taught me to sew and be patient with the process, while my dad taught me to confidently approach new skills with curiosity. A lot of the ways I learn new skills is by trial and error, “fuck around and find out”! I really love mixing such a traditional skills with more progressive, tongue in cheek subject matter. To me it feels like doing my part to keep traditional “women’s work” alive and well.
My pieces all evolve in one of two ways- one) I find a subject matter I like and let it inform the fabrics/colors/ other details of the piece. Or two) I find some interesting material that I’m inspired to work with let the material dictate what sort of subject matter would best highlight its unique qualities. Very rarely I have ideas for projects come to me nearly fully formed and all I have to do is put the various pieces together.
SM: How have you seen the queer art landscape transform? Where do you see it heading in the future?
SN: I have seen the queer art space transform as I’ve been an artist! I’d say more that the queer art space has expanded around me as I continue to find my style. I also think that now there is a very prevalent queer art scene when previously that want a highlighted sector of art the way it is now. Because my art is both queer and sexual, I find myself in a lot of marginalized art spaces but I find that I love the authenticity those spaces cultivate. I think the future will bring continued growth for the queer art scene. Being queer is more accepted than it’s ever been and us queer artists will only continue to take up space and demand that our voices are heard (or in my case that my art is seen!)
SM: Why do you think it’s important for the LGBTQ community to be represented in the art world?
SN: I think it’s important for the LGBTQ community to be represented in the art world because the LGBTQ experience is unique and beautiful and worthy to be celebrated and seen. The best way to learn about the unfamiliar is to be exposed to it! If we can share how our love and joy and fear is just like everyone’s love, joy, fears then maybe it can help create acceptance for everyone.
SM: How do you hope your audience responds to your art, and what kind of impact do you aim to make with your work?
SN: Honestly, I don’t think a lot about how my art will be responded to. I don’t feel like that’s any of my business. I will say that I love the way my art is received when I show it at markets and art events. It brings smiles and interest and occasionally discussions about nudity and sexuality and why it’s important to normalize seeing nudity in public places. I’d love it if my art made people feel like they too can be art, or if my art inspired someone to explore their sexuality. I believe that art should make you feel something so as long as the people viewing my art feel something then I did a satisfactory job.
SM: What are your aspirations as an artist in the future? Are there specific projects, themes, or collaborations you hope to explore?
SN: Being an artist these days feels like the ultimate rebellion, trying to pay bills while staying true to my creative heart can be in such conflict at time. I’d love to do a solo show at some point, highlighting all of my various avenues of creation. I’d love to dabble more in costume creation for photo shoots and/or for fun! I’d love to learn to weld and move toward larger scale projects. I’d also love to make more art with fabrics and turn more beautiful people into art! I always have a few ideas simmering in my head for future pieces- right now I’m ruminating on needle felting and more sculptural bike tube pieces. I’m always looking for fun collaborations and ways to change and grow as an artist and person and I’m excited to see what the future will hold for me.
SM: Any words of wisdom to your younger self?
SN: Worry less about what other people think of you.
The people who get you will prove it and those that don’t probably never will.
You are a Fairy- not for pretend or dress up.
Stop having sex with boys who don’t care about you!!
Comments