Gio Swaby (born 1991) was born and raised in The Bahamas and is currently based in Toronto, Canada. Swaby was recently the subject of her first solo museum exhibition in 2023, Gio Swaby: Fresh Up, at the Art Institute of Chicago. The exhibition, co-organized by Katherine Pill, Senior Curator of Contemporary Art, Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg and Melinda Watt, Chair and Christa C. Mayer Thurman Curator of Textiles, Art Institute of Chicago, it traveled to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA. Swaby’s work has been included in group exhibitions at Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville, FL; Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN; Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN; African American Museum, Philadelphia, PA; Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN; Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY; Kemper Museum, Kansas City, MO; Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA; National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas; Kunsthaus Alte Mühle, Schmallenberg, Germany; among others. Swaby’s work is included in collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Peabody Essex Museum; the Speed Art Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago; the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; among others.
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "As We Are: Gio." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 78" x 38" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (198.12 x 96.52 x 3.81 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1063_1753293392-768x1024.jpg)
“As We Are: Gio,” 2025
“As We Are: Gio,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
78" x 38" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (198.12 x 96.52 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #GIO1063
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "Hi-Vis 5." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 28" x 24" x 1" [HxWxD] (71.12 x 60.96 x 2.54 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1073_1753293382-768x1024.jpg)
“Hi-Vis 5,” 2025
“Hi-Vis 5,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
28" x 24" x 1" [HxWxD] (71.12 x 60.96 x 2.54 cm)
Inventory #GIO1073
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "Extremely and Uncritically Fond of You 3." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 48" x 31" [HxW] (121.92 x 78.74 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1067_1753293387-746x1024.jpg)
“Extremely and Uncritically Fond of You 3,” 2025
“Extremely and Uncritically Fond of You 3,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
48" x 31" [HxW] (121.92 x 78.74 cm)
Inventory #GIO1067
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Brica Wilcox
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "As We Are: Zaneta." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 83" x 42" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (210.82 x 106.68 x 3.81 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1062_1752959945-768x1024.jpg)
“As We Are: Zaneta,” 2025
“As We Are: Zaneta,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
83" x 42" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (210.82 x 106.68 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #GIO1062
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "A Way We Learn to Be: Zaneta." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 33" x 76" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (83.82 x 193.04 x 3.81 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1065_1753293437-1024x768.jpg)
“A Way We Learn to Be: Zaneta,” 2025
“A Way We Learn to Be: Zaneta,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
33" x 76" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (83.82 x 193.04 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #GIO1065
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "As We Are: Ashante." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 78" x 45" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (198.12 x 114.3 x 3.81 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Gio-Swaby_GIO1061_1751064551-768x1024.jpg)
“As We Are: Ashante,” 2025
“As We Are: Ashante,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
78" x 45" x 1 ¹⁄₂" [HxWxD] (198.12 x 114.3 x 3.81 cm)
Inventory #GIO1061
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
![This image depicts an artwork by Gio Swaby titled "Hi-Vis 6." This artwork was created in 2025 and measures 28" x 24" x 1" [HxWxD] (71.12 x 60.96 x 2.54 cm). Its medium is Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas.](https://vielmetter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Gio-Swaby_GIO1072_1753293433-768x1024.jpg)
“Hi-Vis 6,” 2025
“Hi-Vis 6,” 2025
Cotton fabric and cotton thread stitched onto canvas
28" x 24" x 1" [HxWxD] (71.12 x 60.96 x 2.54 cm)
Inventory #GIO1072
Courtesy of the artist and Vielmetter Los Angeles
Photo credit: Jeff McLane
- Born in Nassau, The Bahamas
- Lives and works in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- 2022
- MFA, OCAD University, Toronto, Ontario
- 2016
- BFA, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Vancouver, British Columbia
- 2012
- The College of The Bahamas, Nassau, New Providence
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2025
- "How We Go," Vielmetter Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- 2023
- "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up," Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
- "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up," Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Il
- "I Will Blossom Anyway," Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY
- 2022
- "Gio Swaby: Fresh Up," Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, St Petersburg, FL
- 2021
- "Both Sides of The Sun," Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY
- "Another Side to Me," 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, London, UK
- 2018
- "Rooted," The Current, Nassau, Bahamas
- 2017
- "We All Know Each Other," Unit/Pitt Projects, Vancouver, BC
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2024
- "Art Toronto," Claire Oliver Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
- "Crosscurrents," Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY
- "Domestic Idols," Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
- Expo Chicago, Claire Oliver Galler, Chicago, IL
- "The Experience of Expression," Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN
- "Fabric of a Nation," Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL
- "Shared Vision," African American Museum in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- "Thread: Making Patterns," Kemper Museum, Kansas City, MO
- 2023
- "Daughter/ Mother/ Ancestor: Threads of Connection," Indianapolis Museum of Art, Galleries at Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
- Expo Chicago, Claire Oliver Galler, Chicago, IL
- "Fabric of a Nation," Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
- 2022
- Expo Chicago, Claire Oliver Galler, Chicago, IL
- "National Exhibition 10," National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
- 2021
- "Fabric of a Nation," Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MA
- "Rituals of Resilience," Minneapolis Institute of Artt, Minneapolis, MN
- "Untitled Art Fair," Claire Oliver Gallery, Miami Beach, FL
- 2020
- "Four Now," Claire Oliver Gallery, New York, NY
- "Net Worth," United Contemporary, Toronto, ON
- 2018
- "Die Textile: Stoffsuche," Kunsthaus Alte Mühle, Schmallenberg, Germany
- 2017
- "Übersee: Cuba and The Bahamas," Halle 14, Leipzip, Germany
- 2016
- "National Exhibition 8," National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
- 2015
- "Map of the New Art," Giorgio Cini Foundation, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, Italy
- "Nassau Calling," HilgerBROTKunsthalle, Vienna, Austria
- 2014
- "National Exhibition 7," National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
Bibliography
- 2024
- Armstrong, Byron. “Gio Swaby in ‘Focus’ at Art Toronto," Whitehot Magazine, October (Link)
- Hanna, Yolanda. “Gio Swaby - Visual Artist," Up and Away: Bahamasair Inflight Magazine, April
- 2023
- Pecci, Alexandra. "Artist Gio Swaby’s First Solo Show Brings Stunning Fabric Portraits to the Peabody Essex Museum," Northshore Magazine, October 4 (Link)
- Whyte, Murray. “At Peabody Essex Museum, Gio Swaby’s Virtuosic Portraits of Black Women in Thread and Fabric," The Boston Globe, August 23 (Link)
- Edquist, Grace. "Gio Swaby’s Stitched Portraits Reveal the Beauty of the Undone," Vogue, June 8 (Link)
- Mothes, Kate. "Gio Swaby Embarks on an Exploration of Self-Love and Acceptance in Her Vibrant Textile Portraits," Colossal, May 23
- WayneGuite, Jacqueline. “An Ode to Black Women," Chicago Reader, April 19 (Link)
- Belmont, Sarah. "Gio Swaby’s First Museum Solo Show is a Celebration of Blackness and Womanhood," ARTnews, April 14 (Link)
- Rigou, Vasia. “Styling as a Form of Resistance: A Review of Gio Swaby ‘Fresh up’ at the Art Institute of Chicago," Newcity Art, April 11 (Link)
- Team EBONY. “Amazing Exhibits by Black Artists to Check out This Spring and Summer," EBONY, April 10 (Link)
- "Gio Swaby: Freshen Up," The Art Institute Chicago, April (Link)
- 2022
- Mothes, Kate. "Embodying Vibrance and Joy, Gio Swaby’s Patterned Portraits Celebrate Blackness and Womanhood," Colossal, December 28 (Link)
- Jones, Okla. “Visual Artist Gio Swaby Wants to Leave a Legacy of Love through Her Work," Essence, September 27 (Link)
- Jones, Okla. "8 Must-See Black Art Exhibitions To Check Out This Summer," Essence, September 7 (Link)
- Holliday, Kayla. “Fiber Optics," Vanity Fair, June
- DeYoung, Bill. “‘Fresh Up’: MFA Artist Gio Swaby Tells Personal Stories through Textiles," St Pete Catalyst, May 27 (Link)
- Hannah-Jones, Nikole. “Nikole Hannah-Jones and Gio Swaby on Portraiture That Uplifts Black Women," Literary Hub, May 26 (Link)
- Zhekova, Dobrina. “Gio Swaby’s Textile Portraits Are a Love Letter to Black Womanhood," Harper’s Bazaar, April 6 (Link)
- 2021
- Long, Stephanie. "The Black Vanguards Who Inspired Us In 2021," Refinery29, December 16 (Link)
- Cascone, Sarah. “In Miami, Buyers Hit the Beach for Untitled Art Fair-to Gallerists’ Palpable Relief. Here’s What’s Sold so Far," Artnet News, November 30 (Link)
- Cascone, Sarah. "Meet Artist Gio Swaby, the 29-Year-Old Phenom Whose Sold-Out Debut Boasted Buyers Including Eight Museums (and Roxane Gay)," Artnet, June 4 (Link)
- Louis, Pierre-Antoine. "A Love Letter to Black Women," The NY Times, April 10 (Link)
Selected Awards & Grants
- 2024
- Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Concept to Realization
- 2023
- Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation
- 2022
- Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Concept to Realization
- OCAD University, Dean’s Scholarship
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- 2021
- BC Arts Council Scholarship 2021
- Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship
- OCAD University, Dean’s Scholarship
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- 2020
- British Columbia Arts Council, Individual Arts Grant: Visual Artist
- British Columbia Arts Council, Scholarship
- Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship
- OCAD University, Dean’s Scholarship
Public Collections
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY
- Central Bank of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
- Harper House, Detroit, MI
- Indianapolis Museum of Art Galleries at Newfields, Indianapolis, IN
- Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO
- Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, MN
- MSU Broad Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
- Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL
- Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, MA
- National Gallery of The Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas
- National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- North Dakota Museum of Art, Grand Forks, ND
- Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
- RBC Art Collection, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Speed Art Museum, Louisville, KY
- The Baha Mar Collection, Nassau, Bahamas
- Weisman Art Museum , Minneapolis, MN