Unraveling Imagination
No matter where life takes oil-painter, filmmaker, dancer, and eternal explorer Chloe Swopshire, when seen through this Brooklyn-based artist’s eyes, it can never be portrayed as boring. Swopshire’s canvases are not only remarkable for the brightness and mesmerizing robustness of their compositions, but for the fluidity and freedom of the unraveling stories they tell. As an artistic jack-of-all-trades and an avid adventurer of the world, Swopshire is as perceptive and curious in life as in art, where the artist’s works practically overflow and spill out of frame with unbound ideas and electrifying elements. Swopshire’s work is inherently personal. It’s intimate in its appreciation for movement, its thoughtful references to history and culture, and its continuous evolution. The voice presented in Swopshire’s work is undeniably honest, limitless in imagination, and captivating. Nothing more could be asked of any artist, let alone one as clever and exciting as Chloe Swopshire.
Part One: Who is Chloe Swopshire
Question #1: Who are you?
“My name is Chloe, I am a self taught artist from St. Louis Missouri. I love to celebrate my heritage, and adoption of culture from my travels. I started going to Italy in 2012 as an au-pair for a summer, only to continue to return and discover time and time again that life is truly for my own making. My friends Mimma and Antonio Palana are major to my art story, as upon meeting them in 2015 they extended their home to me to come to and grow as an artist.
I believe that most connections in life are valuable to helping my soul grow. Etna was one experience that I will return to time and time again. I discovered that I am ambidextrous, and bipedal. Symmetry is not present visually in my work, but metaphorically it reigns supreme. I dance ballet, and have studied somewhat causally for over 20 years. I believe in life long relationships that give the right space and room to grow. I am one of five kids.”
Question #2: Who are you as an artist?
“As an artist, I am a risk all adventurer. I had a painting teacher in college who stressed to not make any of the work ‘precious’ and to always work equally when painting. To not over render a segment of the work, lest aliens were to abduct us mid brushstroke: and those who had more complete paintings would be spared. I enjoy movement in my works, and seek to explain the sentient and spiritual experiences that have shaped my life and perspective.”
Question #3: What is in your artwork that we cannot see?
“In my artwork, there is acknowledgement of both my inheritance and my legacy in this life. Many of the ideas that I work with come from feelings of wanting to change myself and to evolve to be the best version of me that I can be. With a full acceptance of the things I do not know, gaps in my knowledge of my heritage from Black Diaspora.”
Question #4: What kind of journey are you on?
“I find myself on a journey of discovery. My intention is to find and walk the path of truth, above all else, and to be a source of empathy and love to those who I cross paths with in life.”
Question #5: What is something art has taught you?
“Art has taught me that my opinion and experiences are valid in and of themselves. Growing up in a predominately white suburb could be isolating at times. Upon my move to New York post undergrad, I was able to find that I was not alone in my perspective.“
Question #6: What is something strange or interesting you keep in the studio/workspace?
“I keep a lot of nic-nacs from my journeys and adventures around. I also have the most amazing vintage items sent from my Grandpa’s antiquing for me that I keep near. We started this years ago, with a school project about a fictional character called Flat Stanley. From there, my Grandpa will ship a full box with all kinds of decorative costumes, and garments to me periodically. Their colors, and forms will usually appear again in my work. Also, having a candle in my studio is important to me. Usually its far from where I work, as fire hazards are real!”
Part Two: Woven Movement
What is your artistic practice?
“I usually allow for my process to involve weeks and months of editing. I usually work in washes, until I achieve a desired movement in the work. Most of my compositions are not meant to portray dimension in the 2D, but to express my experiences imagining and thinking through life. With my proprietary series, NO ART SCHOOL I did my best to share what is inside of my mind. I moved to NYC after school so I could begin a journey towards becoming a filmmaker. After leaving a soul-crushing job last year, I decided to mix my self taught skillsets. To interweave video and my process of making other works to share more deeply of myself and my process.
Upon having many of my ideas and beliefs challenged this spring, I feel that I have returned to the self I dreamed of as a kid. It’s strange how time and experience can shape and orient one towards deciding between lesser ‘evils’ and lesser pain. To rediscover that I am the one who must decide to just keep sending love out as best as I can, and to develop better boundaries have been my coming of age.“
2020, Oil on Canvas
36 x 48 inches
Exploring my the works that stand out in memory and research, such as Max Ernst and Manet, I recreated under their influence- a tea party of my own imagination and memory. The vibrant spectrum of colors, as well as the symbols woven into my work are key markings of the world of my sunny imagination that I am inspired by.
2018, Oil on Canvas
35 x 55 inches
Part one of my Afro Futuristic diptych work of Odell Beckham Jr, in the first work, there is a red power cord outlining his crouched figure. This is symbolic of the challenges overcome through dedication and focus on one goal, motivated by courage and a faith that guides course
Acrylic on Canvas
60 x 60 inches, unstretched
This work was made after I spent several months traveling in Europe during the latter end of 2018 into 2019. Upon returning home from time away I received a newsletter from Air BNB- the key to the start of my travels abroad! They had a story about the hidden legacy of the Kentucky Derby, where children of slaves rode as jockeys and some of the adults were assigned duties to tend to race horses. It was the first time I had discovered this part of my lost heritage. This piece of my series specifically took me a year to approach, due to the stories I told myself. Thanks to NYC Crit Club, I assigned myself the task of challenging my use of vibrant color I depict most of my works in. This was originally a photo included in my research, and as I approached the work, more of my walls around the unknown male figures in my family tree were able to be deconstructed.
Oil on Canvas
35 x 55 inches
The second painting in my Afro Futuristic diptych work of Odell Beckham Jr, depicting him going towards the goal with a yellow outline. I originally found the photos sourced in my images on his instagram, in a carousel style photo upload
Acrylic on Canvas
16 x 20 inches
This work was made with the immense grief of the growing awareness of injustice in the world. Along with many personal life changes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, having visions and plans shattered, truth and an opportunity to reclaim myself emerged.
| Where/ How can Vacant Museum viewers see more of your work and where can they purchase it? |
| More of my work is up to view on my website: https://www.chloeswopshire.work/ My work can be purchased here: https://www.saatchiart.com/chloeswop |