Biography

Shanett Dean is an artist and educator born and based in South Florida, United States. She uses textiles to explore language, communication and indigeneity and is influenced by coastal communities around the world as well work of Toni Morrison & Edwidge Danticat. Dean often uses literature and travel as an impetus to create. She has exhibited her work within the US in New York, D.C. as well as Miami. A graduate of New York University, Dean has collaborated on film, art, and interactive projects in New York City, Washington DC and Ft. Lauderdale. Her work is housed in private residences in New York City, Washington D.C. and South Florida. ​

Artist Statement

I create mixed media designs and conceptual artwork. Using found and curated material, I find that movement reveals an inherent language and consider design an extension of my literary influences. Thus, the attempt on my part as creator is much like that of the author of a novel - not to bring the reader/viewer into a world I’ve created – but to invite the viewer to an opportunity to investigate and co-create an experience.​

 My artwork takes a critical view of relationships and hierarchies – particularly at how women and people of color create a global space for creation. I am interested in the dialogue that occurs through creative spaces among people of color across time and juxtapose textile and design elements to covey this connection. Often the installations that I create mirror this connection in ways that explicitly encourage participation with the viewer – ensuring the continuum of discourse. Likewise, the mixed media designs that I create encourage collaboration with the patron as co-creator. Each design is pliable, thus, new sequences are created which reveal an inseparable relationship between an artist and their community. ​