Resume
Ellex Swavoni is a self-taught sculptor from Louisville, Ky. She Studied graphic design at Campbellsville and where she received a Bachelor of Science in 2014. Swavoni developed an art practice focused on exploring Afro-futurism, representing women as powerful entities and processing ancient ideas into a futurist aesthetic. Currently, she is exploring the cosmic frontier as a feminine concept. Darkness, chaos, nature, and creation are often related to the feminine in cultures across the globe.
EDUCATION/AFFILIATIONS
2014 B.S Graphic Design - Campbellsville University, Campbellsville, KY
2020-2021 Design Blocc, Partnership, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
2021 Artist Talk, Institute of Contemporary Arts at UTC, Chattanooga, TN
EXHIBITIONS (SELECTED)
Solo
2019 Sage2, 333 Hidden Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Group
2022 “A Brief Crack of Light”, Echo Contemporary Art, Atlanta, GA
2022 “Is, Was, Will Be”, Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center, Niagara Falls, NY
2022 “Illumine”, Instillation of Traditional African American Grave Goods, Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
2021 “Atlantis Rising”, Institute of Contemporary Arts at UTC, Chattanooga, TN
2021 Curator and Juror of “Immortal Messages”, Institute of Contemporary Arts at UTC, Chattanooga, TN
2021 “What Sonia Said” Public Art Commission, Decatur, GA
2021 “One in All”, Public Art Commission in collaboration with Grace Kisa, The Belt-line, Atlanta, GA
2021 Styles, Hidden Gallery 333, Atlanta, GA
2021 Black Audacity, Hidden Gallery 333, Atlanta, GA
2021 Artemus Jenkins: Free Wifi, Atlanta Contemporary Museum, Atlanta, GA
2020 Prism: Water Lights in Woodruff Park, Dashboard, Atlanta, GA
2020 Here. There. Everywhere, MINT Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2020 The Sprite Give Back exhibition, Wish Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2020 Art is Healing, The Vault Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2020 COI 13th Anniversary Show, Peters St. Station, Atlanta, GA
2019 Prizm Art Fair, Miami, FL
2019 Garden Fellowship Kick-Off, Hammonds House, Atlanta, GA
2019 Atlanta City Detention Center Reimagining, Commissioned Installation/Engagement tool, Designing Justice + Designing Spaces (Oakland, CA), Atlanta, GA
2019 A Day in the A, Culture Base, The MET, Atlanta, GA
2019 Age of Aquarius, Kuali Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2019 Dead Ringer, Future Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2019 ARTiculate, Mason Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2019 The Secret Garden, Craft Trap, Atlanta, GA
2019 COI 12th Anniversary Show, Peters St. Station, Atlanta, GA
2018 Kaeperbowl Mural, Assistant muralist to lead SFLux Sing, Atlanta, GA
2018 Project Noir, Tribesman/Threaded Culture, Atlanta, GA
2018 We Are All Future Dead Artists, Future Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2018 Abstract Mind State, Future Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2018 What the Truck, Artlanta, Atlanta, GA
2018 The Hundo Show/AMFM Fest, Artlanta/The Bakery, Atlanta, GA
2015 Rage Paint, Still Point Arts, Alpharetta, GA
2010 Vans Custom Culture, Orange County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA
PUBLICATIONS
Schaefer, Steve, Decatur unveils phoenix sculpture in public art project, September, 19, 2021 (ajc.com)
Planet Afropunk, Featured Artist, 2021, (https://planetafropunk.com/art-times/ellex-swavoni)
Ward, Jessika. Ellex Swavoni takes futuristic Black women to space, May 25, 2021 (theatlantavoice.com)
Whisenhunt, Dan. Beacon Hill Black Alliance for Human Rights Names Artist, May 3, 2021 (decaturish.com)
Nikol, Tash. ATLANTIS RISING: ELLEX SWAVONI’S SCI-FI MONUMENT TO ATLANTA’S BLACK HEROINES, March, 3, 2021 (pinupmagazine.org)
Koglmeier, Elysian. Making the Leap into Public Art, January, 19, 2021 (artworkarchive.com)
Sullivan, Paige. PRISM in Woodruff Park, December 14, 2020 (WABE 90.1 FM)s
O’neill, Gail.TILA G.F bound for Art Basel Miami/December 2, 2019(artsatl.org)
Jill, Tracy. Hot 105 FM, Black Arts/Art Basel Miami, December 12, 2019
GRANTS/AWARDS
2021 Beacon Hill Art for the People, Grant Recipient, Decatur, GA
2020 Nexus Grant Atlanta Contemporary, Grant Recipient, Atlanta, GA
2020 Dunwoody Artist Relief Fund, Grant Recipient, Atlanta, GA
2020 The Judith Alexander Foundation Grant Recipient, Atlanta, GA
2020 Sprite Give Back Grant Recipient, Wish Gallery, Atlanta, GA
RESIDENCIES/CONFERENCES (SELECTED)
2019 Garden Fellowship, TILA Studios, Atlanta, GA
2010 Vans Custom Culture, Eastern Region Finalist, Los Angeles, CA