Gio Swaby's Textile Reflections at Claire Oliver Gallery

Gio Swaby’s new exhibition at the Claire Oliver Gallery in New York, I Will Blossom Anyway, draws from her own experience feeling in-between two cultures and two selves after immigrating from the Bahamas to Toronto. Through life-scale textile works including six self-portraits and a grid work of nine silhouettes, Swaby introspectively reflects on her own journey, approaching her dual identities with love and acceptance as she brings them together.

The exhibition is a love letter to Black and Brown women, often Swaby’s friends. Focalizing on their flaws, personal style, strength and eccentricities through sewn line drawing and quilting; the intricately rendered textile portraits imbue tradition as well as upend it, leaving the backsides of each canvas on display. In doing so, the artist grants an intimate look at the typically hidden knots and loose threads to expose and embrace imperfections, symbolizing an ongoing journey of life.

Don’t miss your chance to see I Will Blossom Anyway, on view from May 19 to July 29, 2023.