Nastassja Swift: How Art Elevates Our Collective Narrative [Podcast]

Art has the power to engage communities, connect diverse histories, and elevate the stories that shape our world. In today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with 2024 NOT REAL ART grant recipient Nastassja Swift to discuss the artist’s mission of transformation through visual storytelling.

Based in Virginia, Nastassja is an interdisciplinary artist whose life-sized, needle-felted sculptures explore identity, Black womanhood, and the African diaspora. In our discussion, Nastassja reveals how her background and personal experiences have shaped her work and the narratives she chooses to explore. Nastassja also highlights the importance of sharing resources rather than guarding them, supporting fellow artists, and broadening our definition of creativity. Tune into our conversation on the player below to hear Nastassja’s insights on the transformative power of visual storytelling.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Nastassja felt when she was awarded a 2024 NOT REAL ART grant
• The importance of engaging with others within the art community
• Why sharing information and resources enhances rather than limits individual success
• The crucial role that family support plays in Nastassja’s creative pursuits
• How art evolved into a central element of her education starting in fifth grade
• Why we should broaden our definition of creativity
• Insight into the emotional impact she hopes her artwork will have on viewers
• The poignant project she’s currently working on and its unconventional materials
• How geographical histories, ancestry, and ritual practices influence her work
• Why financial support and professional development for artists is critical

Quotes:

“So much of life is storytelling and communication. These things that are so important. Like art, like medicine, they're enhanced when we know how to communicate with people and with each other.” — Scott “Sourdough” Power [0:15:10]

“To create something is to make something that didn't exist before you created it, whether that's the pizza that you made, the policy that you figured out, or the painting that you made.” — @callme_stassj [0:33:50]

“Wherever this [artwork] is supposed to show, that's not important right now. What's important is making the work, being intentional, creating these stories, figuring out the right material, and not rushing that.” — @callme_stassj [0:52:08]

“Support – is essential for artists to keep doing the things [we do] and to keep nourishing everyone.” — @callme_stassj [0:59:39]

Longer Quotes:

“Conversation between people is so important. I try to find ways to gather artists around me or participate in the gatherings that artists I know have, where we're just talking to each other. Sometimes, it's not about our art business, but it's like, 'How are you doing as a person? How often do you feel like you don't need to be productive and you – [can] do the things that bring you joy outside of creativity?’ I wish we were all okay with doing that more.” — Nastassja Swift [0:13:08]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Nastassja Swift — https://www.nastassjaswift.com/

Nastassja Swift on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/nastassja-swift-132485123

Nastassja Swift on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/nastassjaebony/

Nastassja Swift on X — https://x.com/callme_stassj

NOT REAL ART Grant — https://notrealart.com/grant/

NOT REAL ART — https://www.notrealart.com/

First Friday Exhibitions — https://notrealart.com/exhibitions/

Remote Video Series – https://notrealart.com/remote-exploring-public-art/

NOT REAL ART Hotline — 833-668-7325

Scott “Sourdough” Power — https://www.notarealartist.com/