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Gio Swaby

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Bahamian textile artist
Gio Swaby
BornSeptember 9, 1991
NationalityBahamian
Alma materOCAD University

Emily Carr University of Art and Design

The University of The Bahamas
Websitegioswaby.com

Gio Swaby (born Giovanna Swaby in 1991) is a Bahamian textile artist who grew up in Nassau, Bahamas. She currently lives and practices in Toronto, Ontario.

Swaby is well known for her textile portraits and silhouettes’ which she has created as "a love letter to Black women". Her works are included in the permanent collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston among others.

Early life and education

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. As a child, Swaby was taught how to sew clothes for her dolls by her mother. Her mother became a direct influence on her approach to art and creation.

Swaby first studied art at the College of the Bahamas, before moving to Vancouver, Canada to attend Emily Carr University of Art and Design. In 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film, Video and Integrated Media.

In 2022, she completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at OCAD University.

Media reception

Swaby was featured in the September 2022 edition of Essence magazine. Additionally, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) featured Swaby's work in its “Juneteenth Artist Showcase".

Exhibitions

Swaby’s first solo museum exhibition Gio Swaby: Fresh Up! was co-organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Saint Petersburg and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Gio Swaby: Fresh Up! first opened at the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL on May 28, 2022 and was scheduled to run until October 9, 2022, however, due to hurricane Ian, the exhibition was closed one week early on October 2, 2022. Gio Swaby: Fresh Up! is set to open at the Art Institute of Chicago on April 9, 2023.

On April 12, 2022, a monograph of her work was published by Rizzoli Electa to coincide with her first solo museum opening. It includes an exclusive interview between Swaby and Pulitzer Prize winner, Nicole Hannah-Jones.

In 2022, she also exhibited at EXPO Chicago andher work was written about in the Chicago Sun Times.

Public collections

Solo exhibitions

  • “Gio Swaby: Fresh Up!” Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL – 2022
  • “Both Sides of The Sun” Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY - 2021
  • "We All Know Each Other " Unitt/ Pitt Projects, Vancouver, BC - 2017

References

  1. "Diaspora, Darning and "Die Textile": Giovanna Swaby takes her place in Germany. – National Art Gallery of The Bahamas". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  2. "The Translation Conversation: Migration and navigating blackness in Bahamian womanhood – National Art Gallery of The Bahamas". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  3. ^ "Framing Black Sisterhood: An Interview with Gio Swaby By Nya Lewis". Femme Art Review. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  4. ^ "Visual Artist Gio Swaby Wants To Leave A Legacy Of Love Through Her Work". Essence. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  5. ^ "Alum Gio Swaby's meteoric rise | OCAD University". www.ocadu.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Gio Swaby's Textile Portraits Are a Love Letter to Black Womanhood". Harper's BAZAAR. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  8. ^ Redazione (2022-06-07). "GIO SWABY: FRESH UP". ArteMorbida. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  9. Mag, S. A. D. (27 December 2017). "Meet December's Featured Artist, Gio Swaby!". SAD Mag. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  10. "Juneteenth Artist Showcase - OWN Your Shine". Oprah.com. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  11. ^ "Gio Swaby". Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  12. ^ "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  13. ^ "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up". The MFA Store. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  14. 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.
  15. "Navy Pier's newest installation: Expo Chicago". Chicago Sun-Times. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  16. Swaby, Gio (2021), Pretty Pretty 9, retrieved 2023-01-27
  17. Swaby, Gio (2021). "Love Letter 5". Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  18. ^ Claire Oliver Gallery. "Gio Swaby CV" (PDF).
  19. "Pretty Pretty 3, Gio Swaby ^ Minneapolis Institute of Art". collections.artsmia.org. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  20. Gallery, Claire Oliver (2021-06-03), Conversations on Content: Both Sides of the Sun, retrieved 2023-01-27
  21. "Whitewall: Art, Design, Fashion, and Luxury Lifestyle". Whitewall. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  22. Higgins, Kay (2017-08-19). "Gio Swaby: We All Know Each Other". UNIT/PITT. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  23. Higgins, Kay (2017-10-03). "Artist tour and discussion with Gio Swaby". UNIT/PITT. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
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