Arts Directory

About

Artist Bio

Rosetta Nesbitt is a visual artist whose primary focus lies within the realm of printmaking. Originally hailing from South Carolina, her artistic journey began while studying studio art at Converse College. Before delving into visual art, she spent numerous years as a floral designer, skills from which seamlessly transitioned into her two-dimensional art. Over the last decade, Nesbitt dedicated herself to honing her skills as a printmaker, merging various printing techniques to craft unified and layered images. Her current body of work, “The Paper Dolls,” features handcrafted figurative images carved or etched onto a flat surface that are inked and transferred to archival paper. Her images are often embossed with indigenous Southeastern plant material. Through these pieces, Nesbitt’s exploration delves into the historical experiences of Southern Black Women while encompassing aspects of their appearances, familiar dynamics, gender roles and spiritual beliefs. As she recognizes printmaking as a timeless form of communication; Rosetta Nesbitt aims to utilize the medium to showcase the multifaceted and endurance of women in her culture. Her objective is to capture the diversity essence of black women while shedding light on the adversities of being a black women living in the Southeast.

Artist Statement

I am a visionary printmaking artist who was born in South Carolina and studied studio art at Converse College. I have honed my printmaking techniques over the last decade, often combining various printing methods to create a single, striking figurative image. My current body of work, “The Paper Dolls,” features hand- carved or etched figurative images that are embossed with native Southeastern plant material. Through my art, I explore the historical lives of Southern black women, from their physical appearance and familial relationships to their gender roles and spiritual practices. As a medium of communication that has been used for centuries, I use printmaking to depict the stunning diversity of black women and pay homage to their resilience in the face of historical adversity.