May 2018
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
Leah Naxon
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
Leah Naxon
Artistic Statement
The experience I have making a piece is just as important as the final visual representation. My work draws from the idea of the braid, a physical act I’ve been drawn to since working with textiles; almost as if, a muscle memory from when I was young and braiding my sister’s hair or making friendship bracelets. I deconstruct the idea of the braid, down to twists and knots in order to create works that have a strong sense of weight and tension. What I’m drawn to within textiles is the function of the material itself. I’m drawn to the physicality of fabric and the way it behaves through deconstruction and manipulation. This is where my process starts, with finding a textile that inspires me to transform it. My work relates physically to my own body because I’m drawn to repetition in actions. The act of braiding and knot tying becomes a full body experience, repeating the same arm movements over and over again, brought on by the desire to integrate into the fabric. The work I create focuses on transforming lightweight fabrics into works that have heaviness to them.
The experience I have making a piece is just as important as the final visual representation. My work draws from the idea of the braid, a physical act I’ve been drawn to since working with textiles; almost as if, a muscle memory from when I was young and braiding my sister’s hair or making friendship bracelets. I deconstruct the idea of the braid, down to twists and knots in order to create works that have a strong sense of weight and tension. What I’m drawn to within textiles is the function of the material itself. I’m drawn to the physicality of fabric and the way it behaves through deconstruction and manipulation. This is where my process starts, with finding a textile that inspires me to transform it. My work relates physically to my own body because I’m drawn to repetition in actions. The act of braiding and knot tying becomes a full body experience, repeating the same arm movements over and over again, brought on by the desire to integrate into the fabric. The work I create focuses on transforming lightweight fabrics into works that have heaviness to them.
Leah Naxon creates textile works that focus on process, weight and tension. She was born in Dallas, Texas, but currently lives and works in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Naxon will receive her BFA in Studio Arts from Santa Fe University of Art Design in May 2018. Naxon’s exhibition Hung Up was shown at Critical Space Gallery and she was also awarded SITE Scholar 2017-2018 as part of the SITE Santa Fe Scholars Program.
For inquiries contact the artist directly:
Leah Naxon
520 Camino Solano, Santa Fe, NM 87505
214-289-7121
instagram.com
www.leahnaxon.com/
Leah Naxon
520 Camino Solano, Santa Fe, NM 87505
214-289-7121
instagram.com
www.leahnaxon.com/