The Month Everything Changed

Hey family,

May came in like it had something to prove — and honestly? So did I.

HELD: Black Women & The Womb

On May 8th, Mother’s Day weekend, I walked into Nina Baldwin Gallery in Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborhood and set down twelve years of waiting rooms, diagnoses, grief, and silence in the form of two chairs.

The Waiting Room — my first mixed media installation and my most personal work to date — is now on display as part of HELD: Black Women & The Womb, a curated group exhibition centered on Black women artists whose work reflects lived experiences with womb health. The show runs for four weeks and the work in that room is extraordinary. I am honored to be among these artists.

Opening night was something I will never forget. I started explaining the chairs to one person and looked up to find a crowd. People cried. People shared their own stories with me. A woman told me my work was medicinal.

I had no idea there were so many of us.

If you’re in Atlanta, come see it. Bring tissue. Bring someone you love. Scan the QR code on the floor and read the full artist statement. Walk around to the back of the Despair chair and sit with I Forgive You for a moment.

The show runs through early June. Details and tickets at the link below.

The Waiting Room — Now on YouTube

I documented everything. The Goodwill find. The stripped screw from Hades. The cyanotype process. The resin plums. The making of Hope and Despair from start to finish.

The first video — HOPE — is live now. Despair drops soon.

These aren’t tutorials. They’re the backstory. My actual medical history narrated over the process of making the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever created.

Refreshed & Restored at Westside Market

While all of this was happening I also had work showing at Westside Market in Atlanta with Reflektion Designs. A pair of MCM chairs and a bench — all refreshed, restored, and ready for a new home. On display and for sale through the first week of June.

If you’ve been waiting for a piece from the studio this is a beautiful entry point. Come see them in person or reach out directly.

Rich Auntie Squad Tote Bags

She’s here. The Rich Auntie Squad Tote is now available in three colorways — Golden, Black, and Off-White. Made to order, made by hand, made for the woman who is The Village, The Vibe, and The Vault.

We actually sold one at the HELD soft opening before the bags were even officially listed. The people have spoken. 😄

Grab yours HERE. Free to carry your whole energy.

Happy Mother’s Day

To every woman who has mothered in ways the world doesn’t always recognize — the aunties, the godmothers, the women who tried and lost, the women still waiting, the women who chose differently and built something beautiful anyway🤍

This month was for you. This work is for you ♥️

Thank you for holding space for my story. I hope it made room for yours 🫶🏽

With love,
niCo
Heirloom Alchemist | House of Nambili