Artist Talk Series: Nastassja E. Swift

Best known for her work as a sculptural fiber artist, Nastassja E. Swift uses the needle felting technique to create and build her beautiful and haunting collection of black dolls.

A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art, Nastassja’s introduction to art began as a little girl looking through her Mother’s portfolios of drawings, and further cultivated by an elementary school teacher (Ms. Richardson), recognizing Nastassja potential and encouraging her to grow and further develop her art.

Nastassja’s initiation to Fiber Art happened accidentally when a course she wanted to take was full, thus propelling the journey of working with fiber, opening the door to possibilities and a brand new way in which Ms. Swift was to create and make art. A love of sculpting, made transitioning to needle felting and working three dimensionally a natural fit.

The work we see from Nastassja today was born out of her love of drawing, painting people, figures and faces particularly of black girls and various other influences most notably her mother’s collection of delicate black porcelain dolls. Nastassja’s very first project was a series of eight black dolls during which time she developed an interest in weaving after having learned how to use a loom. An interest in kente cloth and the exploration of gender norms and practices in West Africa and its people gave life to the synergy of her dolls and what they represent. This galvanized her work with her dolls representing older black women, who in the tribes of Ghana were held in very high regard.

Nastassja’s reverence is demonstrated by her creation of these dolls as these older black women in these tribes were sought for their guidance and wise counsel. Her art is beautifully centered on the richness of black womanhood and their stories and cultures. http://www.dfordolls.com/feltingtoolbox