Kesiena Onosigho is a mixed-media textile artist & natural dyer based in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Through the study of materials and patterns Kesiena intuitively explores textiles and a range of media to create atmospheric abstractions focused on intersectionality, as coined by Kimberle Crenshaw, engaging in themes of social & environmental justice. Kesiena's thought-provoking mixed-media collages and installations are informed by her lived experiences, curiosity, and the historic influence on arts & craft from people across the African Diaspora. Every work embodies her deep fascination with research, materiality and process and comes to life through her studio and innovative practice where she conjures up her own methods & tools to produce symbolic forms through the medium of foraged items, fiber types that are layered and fused to form abstract compositions.
Kesiena’s studio practice includes traditional craft techniques like knitting, natural dyeing, botanical ink-making and patch-working with recycled materials. Cultivating connection through hosting natural dye explorations in Brooklyn, Onosigho participates in community engagement where fellow creatives explore how overlooked items, like foraged food scraps, create beauty and inspire in environmentally meaningful ways.
Using her processed-based artistic practice as a foundation, Onosigho created KEPT STUDIO, a disruptive boutique agency, which takes an inventive approach to fiber and art by pushing boundaries of the textile experience. Through working at the intersection of art, design, craft & fashion, KEPT STUDIO offers consultation services to create more meaningful and enduring experiences within textile innovation. KEPT values collaboration especially with sustainable initiatives & special projects concerning materials. KEPT specializes in concept & ideation, R&D, sustainability consulting, design development, creation of knit swatches, and knitted products in various fields including, but not limited to art, fashion and industrial design. See SERVICES for more info.
KESIENA graduated from Parsons School of Design, with a BFA in fashion design. At Parsons she started her journey into sustainable design and material exploration. In 2014, she was recruited to join Nike’s Flyknit innovation team at their WHQ in Beaverton, OR. At Nike she received a holistic view of how to create revolutionary knit products: With access to Nike’s infamous innovation kitchen, exclusive visits to Nike’s fabled DNA archive, and complete visibility to Nike’s proprietary flyknit supply chain. Passionate about championing and supporting a wider range of artistic & sustainable projects, she moved back to NY. Consumed by a love of innovation and industrial knitting, she began working at Stoll Knit Resource in New York, where she worked with a wide range of clients. Prior to Nike & Stoll, KESIENA’s strong sense of the fashion landscape came from her experience working with the creative teams at Lanvin, Calvin Klein, Theyskens’ Theory, Alexander Wang, and with the legendary Pat McGrath.
For inquiries about consulting, potential collaborations, custom artwork or just to say hello, please contact: kesienastudio@gmail.com or @kesiena via instagram.
