About
Natalie V. Grant is a Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist working in photography, textile art, and mixed media. Through tufted fiber portraits, photographic works, and community-centered projects, she explores themes of cultural identity, memory, representation, and pride within Black communities.
Drawing inspiration from African traditions and the visual language of Black American culture, Grant examines hair as both a personal form of expression and a powerful vessel for storytelling. Her work celebrates the artistry, history, and symbolism embedded within Black hair while challenging narratives of erasure and underrepresentation. By combining photography with hand-tufted yarn, fabric, beads, and found materials, she creates vibrant portraits that blur the boundaries between image-making, craft, and sculpture.
Grant received her BFA in Photography and Video from the School of Visual Arts in 2020. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, Los Angeles, and Paris, including Beyond Our Skin a group exhibition she organized and curated. Alongside her studio practice, she facilitates workshops and community-based art experiences that introduce participants to textile arts and creative self-expression.
Her current body of work, Crowned, centers Black New Yorkers and celebrates hair as a living archive of identity, culture, and creativity. Inspired by African traditions that view hair as a sacred form of communication and adornment, the series highlights the beauty and individuality of Black hairstyles while honoring the stories they carry. Through bold color, texture, and portraiture, Grant creates spaces where Black experiences are seen, valued, and preserved, inviting viewers to reflect on the power of representation and cultural pride.
Links
Commercial Photography Portfolio