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[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

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

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

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

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

“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

  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. 1 2 3 "Framing Black Sisterhood: An Interview with Gio Swaby By Nya Lewis". Femme Art Review. 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Visual Artist Gio Swaby Wants To Leave A Legacy Of Love Through Her Work". Essence. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  5. 1 2 "Alum Gio Swaby's meteoric rise | OCAD University". www.ocadu.ca. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  6. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 "Gio Swaby's Textile Portraits Are a Love Letter to Black Womanhood". Harper's BAZAAR. 2022-04-06. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  8. 1 2 Redazione (2022-06-07). "GIO SWABY: FRESH UP". ArteMorbida. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  9. ↑ Mag, S. A. D. "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. 1 2 3 4 "Gio Swaby". Museum of Fine Arts, St Petersburg. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  12. 1 2 "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up". The Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 2023-01-27.
  13. 1 2 "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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. 1 2 3 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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