Gio Swaby
Gio Swaby | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 9, 1991 |
| Nationality | Bahamian |
| Alma mater | OCAD University
Emily Carr University of Art and Design The University of The Bahamas |
| Website | gioswaby.com |
Gio Swaby[1] (born Giovanna Swaby in 1991) is a Bahamian[2] textile artist[3] who grew up in Nassau, Bahamas.[4][5] She currently lives and practices in Toronto, Ontario.[6][3]
Swaby is well known for her textile portraits and silhouettes’ which she has created as "a love letter to Black women".[7] Her works are included in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston among others.[6][8]
Early life and education
[edit]Gio Swaby grew up in Nassau, Bahamas, with three older sisters and one younger brother. They were raised by their mother who was a seamstress.[7] As a child, Swaby was taught how to sew clothes for her dolls by her mother.[7] Her mother became a direct influence on her approach to art and creation.[4]
Swaby first studied art at the College of the Bahamas, before moving to Vancouver, Canada to attend Emily Carr University of Art and Design.[4] In 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Video and Integrated Media.[9]
In 2022, she completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at OCAD University.[5]
Media reception
[edit]Swaby was featured in the September 2022 edition of Essence magazine.[4] Additionally, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) featured Swaby's work in its “Juneteenth Artist Showcase".[10]
Exhibitions
[edit]Swaby’s first solo museum exhibition Gio Swaby: Fresh Up![11][12] was co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Saint Petersburg and the Art Institute of Chicago.[13]
Gio Swaby: Fresh Up! first opened at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL on May 28, 2022[11] and was scheduled to run until October 9, 2022,[8] however, due to hurricane Ian, the exhibition was closed one week early on October 2, 2022.[11] Gio Swaby: Fresh Up! is set to open at the Art Institute of Chicago on April 9, 2023.[12]
On April 12, 2022, a monograph of her work was published by Rizzoli Electa to coincide with her first solo museum opening.[14] It includes an exclusive interview between Swaby and Pulitzer Prize winner, Nicole Hannah-Jones.[13]
In 2022, she also exhibited at EXPO Chicago andher work was written about in the Chicago Sun Times.[15]
Public collections
[edit]- Art Institute of Chicago, IL[16]
- Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA[17]
- Museum of Fine Arts, Saint Petersburg, FL[18]
- Harper House, Detroit, MI[18]
- Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN[18]
- Minneapolis Institute of Art, MN[19]
Solo exhibitions
[edit]- “Gio Swaby: Fresh Up!” Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL – 2022[11]
- “Both Sides of The Sun” Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY - 2021[20][21][3][7]
- "We All Know Each Other " Unitt/ Pitt Projects, Vancouver, BC - 2017[22][23]
References
[edit]- ^ "Diaspora, Darning and "Die Textile": Giovanna Swaby takes her place in Germany. – National Art Gallery of The Bahamas". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "The Translation Conversation: Migration and navigating blackness in Bahamian womanhood – National Art Gallery of The Bahamas". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c "Framing Black Sisterhood: An Interview with Gio Swaby By Nya Lewis". Femme Art Review. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c d "Visual Artist Gio Swaby Wants To Leave A Legacy Of Love Through Her Work". Essence. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b "Alum Gio Swaby's meteoric rise | OCAD University". www.ocadu.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b Cascone, Sarah (2021-06-04). "Meet Artist Gio Swaby, the 29-Year-Old Phenom Whose Sold-Out Debut Boasted Buyers Including Eight Museums (and Roxane Gay)". Artnet News. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c d "Gio Swaby's Textile Portraits Are a Love Letter to Black Womanhood". Harper's BAZAAR. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b Redazione (2022-06-07). "GIO SWABY: FRESH UP". ArteMorbida. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Mag, S. A. D. (27 December 2017). "Meet December's Featured Artist, Gio Swaby!". SAD Mag. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ "Juneteenth Artist Showcase - OWN Your Shine". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c d "Gio Swaby". Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up". The MFA Store. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Donaldson, Tara (28 May 2022). "Textiles, Triumphs and Love Letters to Black Women: Gio Swaby's Solo Museum Debut". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Navy Pier's newest installation: Expo Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Swaby, Gio (2021), Pretty Pretty 9, retrieved 2023-01-27
- ^ Swaby, Gio (2021). "Love Letter 5". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ a b c Claire Oliver Gallery. "Gio Swaby CV" (PDF).
- ^ "Pretty Pretty 3, Gio Swaby ^ Minneapolis Institute of Art". collections.artsmia.org. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Gallery, Claire Oliver (2021-06-03), Conversations on Content: Both Sides of the Sun, retrieved 2023-01-27
- ^ "Whitewall: Art, Design, Fashion, and Luxury Lifestyle". Whitewall. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Higgins, Kay (2017-08-19). "Gio Swaby: We All Know Each Other". UNIT/PITT. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
- ^ Higgins, Kay (2017-10-03). "Artist tour and discussion with Gio Swaby". UNIT/PITT. Retrieved 2023-01-27.