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Miami-based multimedia fiber and acrylic artist, Destyni “Desi” Swoope, experiments with culture, color, creativity, and community in her eye-catching work. Born to a Puerto Rican- American mother and a Bahamian, African-American father, her Afro-Latinx and Caribbean roots are her biggest source of inspiration.
Though she was always artistically inclined, she developed a love for the arts from her grandmother, the OG multi-hyphenate, multimedia artist. Her craftsmanship included sewing, knitting, painting, woodwork, gardening, and cooking, among other disciplines that Desi would go on to learn and feature in her art.
“She was an artist simply to just be an artist. She wasn't a professional. She wasn't selling things. She wasn’t in galleries and museums. She was making art for our family. Just because she loved to do it.”
Growing up, Desi never really had the opportunity to experience museums or galleries, which seemed to be the case for much of her family and community. Noting the contrast of their absence from fine art spaces, and all that her vibrant culture had to offer them, inclusion, representation, and preservation of identity became core themes of her projects.
Those who share parts of her heritage can see themselves reflected in her pieces because she intentionally uses cultural references to music, food, traditional games, hairstyles, patterns, and more.
“My favorite response that I get when they see these icons or these signature things within the culture, is the memories that they gain and regain. And I find that's the best way to enter conversation with people and truly find a way to make a connection.”
She’s only in her second year of professionally doing fine arts, with several years of commercial work under her belt, and it’s been so liberating. While she loves the occasional brand partnership, she ultimately made the transition for creative control over her voice and the diasporic dialogues within her visual narratives. It allows her to go beyond pushing boundaries— now, she gets to break them.
“It's important to me to not only break them, but leave a crack open in the door for people after me that show up in my art. To be that person that's willing to take that step forward for the generation behind them—whether that's in community or in your bloodline.”
From culturally relevant art to community building, Desi shows up as her authentic self so others can feel empowered to do the same. Now that’s how you challenge–and change–the status quo.
Change isn’t just inevitable. Sometimes it’s necessary. As a baller-turned-NASCAR-tire-changer, Brehanna Daniels has mastered the arts of embracing change, overcoming adversity, and finding her groove.
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