Nanette Pengelley
she/her
Durham, NC, USA
Nanette Pengelley is a queer, Jamaican-American capricorn and metalsmith from south Florida. She went on to study in Quito, Boston, and Florence after graduating from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2015 with her BFA in Jewelry and Metals.
“My work centers on the use of found objects. When I integrate semi-precious materials, I introduce these unique discoveries into a transitive context. As a result, my process is a derivative of my environment. Through experimentation, I endeavor to locate myself in my surroundings, as an artist—as a person.
To put it simply, my work is shaped by materials that I am attracted to, and oftentimes I find myself captivated by an object because of my encounter with it.
In this way, my experiences are carried forward with me, through the act of making.”
What does being queer mean to you in relation to your material choices? Is it something you consider?
“I guess to me, being queer means being who I am and being loved for just that--- as well as the reverse, loving and choosing everyone in my community for exactly who they are, not their assigned gender at birth, or whatever body or ethnicity or social class they happen to be born into.
It means welcoming, and supporting, and defending against oppression in all forms-- and I do my best to uphold these values within my practice. I prioritize the origin of my materials, my impact on the environment and therefore communities most vulnerable to climate change, as well as my financial responsibility to give back 20% of my income via mutual aid. Being queer means caring, I guess, and my work is an extension of my care."
"Inside Out/ Outside In", Cotton thread, sterling silver, 1.5" x 1.5", 2024
Is the work queer because the maker is queer, or is it queer because the subject matter is queer?
“In my personal case, my work is queer because of the way it is made and the impact I hope to have on my community."
