Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Stewart.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My nomadic upbringing instilled in me adaptability to, empathy for, and curiosity of other people. Feeling as an onlooker in many cases, moving from Nevada, to New Mexico, to Northern Ca, Southern Ca, to Hawaii, and back to the South Bay. My heritage also proves nomadic, uprooted and displaced, being of native Hawaiian and African descent. My family worked in the non-profit sector my entire life, serving the displaced, addicted, and cast aside in our society.
With this context along with my love for art and culture, I felt my mission was to acknowledging people’s stories and help cultivate their passions in meaningful and culture-defining ways.
After completing my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology with minors in Art History and Spanish at Hawai’i Pacific University, Honolulu, HI in 2018, I began to pursue the path to become an independent curator and poet.
My capstone and bachelor studies focused on displaced populations, justice, global systems, and indigenous art. Moving to Los Angeles in 2018, I decided to use the Doxa Exhibit Instagram as a platform to create online exhibitions, build my network, and highlight diverse artists, stories, and media that caught my attention.
Has it been a smooth road?
The art of being noticed, while being an introvert, is the struggle. Often times, I get in my own way due to social anxiety and imposter’s syndrome. The way I have moved and continued to move is to do what intuitively feels right and to not pressure myself. It is also important to understand that each person’s path is unique and comparison can kill any motivation.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
Doxa Exhibit (doksa meaning “glory” in ancient biblical Greek) currently serves as an Instagram exhibition space where I feature artworks and artists that not only interest me, but also address themes surrounding justice, healing, human persistence, and identity.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like Los Angeles is a good place to build a network in the Arts and Creative fields. There is room to exist as you are and create your niche.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doxa_exhibit/
Image Credit:
Supercollider Art Gallery–The Emergent exhibition 2020
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