Sydney Beach Zester American, b. 1994

Sydney Beach Zester is a mixed media artist with a profound passion for textiles. Born in the historic city of Baltimore, she has found her creative home in the coastal town of Wilmington, NC. With an artistic journey spanning nearly two decades, Sydney's work is an ode to the art of storytelling, intertwining threads of family history, personal resilience, and the enduring strength of women. Rooted in a vibrant, multi-generational Irish Catholic family, Sydney's creative spirit was nurtured by her aunt, a master seamstress, and her grandmother, both of whom bestowed upon her the art of sewing. These formative years shaped her perception of the world, instilling in her a profound appreciation for women's work and the tenacity of the female spirit. Sydney's artistic journey was, in many ways, a voyage of self-discovery. As she grappled with generational trauma and her own health challenges, she unearthed a transformative medium for healing and happiness – textiles. Her sewing transcended mere craft, evolving into quilted paintings that serve as a canvas for her emotional exploration. The heart of her artistic process lies in her reverence for fabrics, particularly heirlooms and antique textiles that whisper tales of yesteryears. These materials, predominantly sourced from the United States and Europe, encompass a rich tapestry of cotton, linen, and European hemp. In each work, she artfully combines utilitarian fabrics, like feed sacks and table linens, with decorative textiles bearing intricate details and textures. In doing so, she pays homage to women as the stalwart pillars of society, challenging their historical objectification while celebrating their inherent beauty. The focus of Sydney's artistic expression is the exploration of duality—a mesmerizing dance of contrasts: tension and release, fast and slow, joy and sorrow, gusto and grief, giddy and grim. Her artworks are symphonies of emotions, beautifully composed through playful colors and asymmetrical shapes. She challenges conventions, liberating textiles from the confines of geometric rigor, and allowing the fabric to flow in sinuous, graceful lines.

Sydney's artistic inspirations are drawn from a diverse array of sources, spanning the elegance of architectural design to the annals of art history. Her influences range from Josef Albers to the soulful expressions of the Gee's Bend quilters. Notably, Sydney's Masters in Public Health from UNC Greensboro fuels her continued engagement with IPAS, a global reproductive justice organization, blending her artistic endeavors with a commitment to broader societal well-being. Her work has been included in esteemed exhibitions in Brooklyn, NY, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, GA, and Raleigh, NC. Beyond the canvas, she has collaborated with renowned brands such as Hoka and Athleta, who are captivated by her unwavering commitment to championing women's causes and wellness. Her work is currently represented by galleries across the US, including Anne Irwin Fine Art (Atlanta, GA), Pamela Walsh Gallery (Palo Alto, CA), Liz Lidgett (Des Moines, IA), and Liza Pruitt (Richmond, VA).