Qualeasha Wood’s Mythic Digital Tapestries

The artist’s tapestries, which incorporate distorted self-portraits and screenshots from the internet, feel both ephemeral and nostalgic. The artist Qualeasha Wood can make a computer glitch look mythic. She distorts her likeness freely in her large-scale recycled cotton jacquard tapestries, which are machine- and hand-embroidered and beaded with webcam and iPhone self-portraits, as well as snapshots of memes, early aughts-style desktop screens, and other digital ephemera, each pixel represented by a stitch. Sometimes she layers dozens of pictures of her face, smearing her eyes, cheeks, and lips into one another. In a few of the tapestries in her new solo show, the artist poses in lingerie, but parts of her body are erased, cropped, or censored by heavy pixelation. Choppy text — a mix of computer code and poetry — runs across the malfunctioning images. The color scheme is mostly blues and greens, as though Wood, 28, were lounging underwater.

Qualeasha Wood’s Tapestries: Distorted Self-Portraits and Digital Ephemera

These familiar connections are at the heart of Wood’s work, bridging the gap between her upbringing and the digital age. Her art not only reflects her personal journey and the complexities of modern identity but also resonates with viewers who find their own stories intertwined within the threads. By utilizing both new media imagery and traditional textile methods, she creates layered narratives that challenge perceptions of race and identity while simultaneously narrating her own story. Her choice to work with jacquard tapestries signifies a return to tactile and traditional forms of storytelling, bringing her paradoxically closer to her digital subjects. Wood’s work embodies a dialogue between the past and present, presenting windows into a world where personal and collective histories converge.

Exploration of Vulnerability and Satire in Art

Her work invites viewers into a personal narrative that intertwines her identity and community experiences, which she expresses through her tapestries. She explores themes of belonging and displacement, using digital and physical mediums to bridge her past and present. This intricate storytelling approach allows her to connect with audiences, fostering a sense of familiarity and shared memory. Each tapestry becomes a vessel for communal contemplation, sparking dialogue about race, representation, and the complexities of navigating digital spaces as a person of color. Through her art, Wood asserts her presence and challenges conventional perceptions, transforming personal insights into a universal commentary on contemporary life.

Incorporating Satire and Vulnerability in Tapestry Art

Her upbringing and experiences have continued to inform her work, making each piece a complex tapestry of personal history and social commentary. By blending digital motifs with traditional textile techniques, Wood creates art that speaks both to her personal journey and larger societal issues. Her use of familiar imagery and materials evokes a sense of shared memory and cultural resonance. Through her art, Wood invites viewers to reflect on their digital and physical identities, challenging perceptions and encouraging dialogue about representation and belonging. Her work not only serves as a personal narrative but also as a medium for broader conversations about race, gender, and technology in contemporary society.

Influence of Family and Cultural Roots

Qualeasha Wood’s work is a blend of personal history, cultural commentary, and digital manipulation, all woven together in her tapestries to challenge perceptions and engage viewers in a dialogue about identity and race. Her unique approach allows her to break boundaries and provoke thought, while also maintaining a connection to her roots and family history. Through her art, Wood addresses complex issues with a mix of vulnerability and defiance, creating pieces that resonate with both familiarity and innovation.