In Conversation with Shefon Nachelle: Fabulously Collaging Black Womanhood

Portrait courtesy of the artist.

Collage artist and vintage fashion aficionado, Shefon Nachelle (she/her), pieces together historical, emotional, sartorial, and magical parts of the lives of Black womxn in mesmerizing collage pieces. Nachelle reveals the joy and power she feels in creating her Black-focused collages, and how fashion pushes her work to new plateaus.

GG: Talk to me about the freedom you feel in portraying Black womxn in both your handmade and digital collages.

SN: Ah, it’s such a joy and privilege to dream with the Black women and girls in my work. The freedom to explore. The freedom to travel a memory. The existence of Black women and girls, in both this world and the surreal, is so important. It ‘s all an entryway to self. Pulling and placing fragments of these women and girls, the places and time they inhabit, to arrive at some reimagined world. That’s what I mean by traveling a memory, using this work to remember who I am and the places from which I have come. There is a freedom in practice, yes, but I feel grateful to do this work because it’s a portal to my own liberation. 

Capture the World, digital collage, Shefon Nachelle. Courtesy of the artist.

Your love for fashion is so enthusiastic and really comes through in your work. What drives that constant fashion inspiration?

I didn’t even think I was fully aware of this until having to answer this question. LOL. But, I really do love the endlessness of the art form. The colors, shapes/form, and texture. I love watching how the fashion aspect can transform the entire piece. It provides a presence, a visibility you can’t deny. It provides another layer of visual language to the works that fall short in subject matter, and that is sometimes solely grayscale. Those other elements create a personality or new expression for the women whose faces and bodies I choose to use. Also, it’s the fun part. 

Between Too, handcut collage, Shefon Nachelle. Courtesy of the artist.

Describe a recent perfect vintage shopping experience.

Without a doubt, the Manhattan Vintage Show. It’s a two day expo with dozens and dozens of vintage dealers. The dealers travel from all over with moderately-priced and more high style vintage items as well. And of course, everything is so unique and stunning but I’m in love with the time travel that happens. 

There is such a vast collection, so searching through the garments is almost like moving in and out of time. The shopping and discovery is of course a joy, but there is a certain wonder in conjuring stories to accompany them. I love digging through the racks and imagining what Joyce Bryant might’ve worn on the opening night of her performance. Dreamy. 

What are some fave vintage shops you frequented before these quarantine times?

There are some great local spots like Bellefonte Vintage, Urban Vintage and my ultimate favorite, Family Thrift Store in Wilmington, Delaware. Mesh Vintage, Bargain Thrift, and Philly AIDS in Philadelphia, are also spots I spend way too much time in. You can also never underestimate a great find at a local yard or estate sale. There are always some real gems to be found there as well. In the meantime, it seems I’ll be digging through my own things looking for some hidden gems and lost treasure! 

Is That, digital collage, Shefon Nachelle. Courtesy of the artist.

What's next for 2020, but real talk, feel free to be honest about these uncertain times we're in, and how you're coping.

Well, the year has certainly taken us all by surprise. I’m adjusting to the newness of it all, and by adjusting I mean, some days I’m able to flow, and others I’m bobbing in my own waves of anxiety and depression. In the midst of it all, I’m working on a project that centers Alice Dunbar Nelson and her work as an artist, educator, and suffragette. I’ll be creating a series of collage works inspired by her life that will be scaled for a mural display, along with some virtual participatory components because of COVID-19. But I’m really excited to serve as the lead artist to capture the world of such an important Black woman. Other than that, I’m always sharing my work on socials and my Patreon, and looking forward to nailing my first TV or film project when we re-enter the world again. 

“There is a freedom in practice, yes, but I feel grateful to do this work because it’s a portal to my own liberation.”

A Long Way, digital collage, Shefon Nachelle. Courtesy of the artist.