Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Ofori.
Hi Nancy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My creative life began long before I ever considered myself an artist.
From the ages of five to eight, I lived with my grandmother, and those years remain some of my happiest memories. One of my aunts had an extraordinary gift for creating beauty out of everyday materials. If she could decorate it, build it, or transform it, she would. She taught me how to make piñatas, craft paper flowers, and cross-stitch. Through her, I discovered the joy of making things with my own hands and learned that creativity could turn ordinary moments into something magical.
That chapter ended when my mother moved my siblings and me to Los Angeles. Life changed quickly. Survival became the priority, and the curious, creative child I had been was pushed aside. Although I occasionally experimented with creative projects, I never fully embraced that part of myself. Deep down, I was afraid. I feared discovering that I wasn’t talented enough. Years of struggling to get by had convinced me that I was always lacking something and that the things I wanted were somehow beyond my reach.
It wasn’t until my forties that I finally gave myself permission to pursue art wholeheartedly. I became determined to learn, experimenting with every medium and technique I could find. Yet even then, fear lingered. I was comfortable practicing in the privacy of my home, but taking a class felt terrifying. I still remember walking into my first art class with shaking hands, convinced I would fail miserably.
Fortunately, I learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s continuing despite it.
As I developed my skills, I made a decision: if I was going to learn how to paint and draw, I would share what I learned with children. I began volunteering at my children’s school and at my church, teaching simple art techniques while continuing to practice at home. Teaching became an unexpected catalyst for growth. Every lesson challenged me to understand the fundamentals more deeply, and every student inspired me to stay curious.
Over time, I continued exploring new materials and approaches, and eventually I gained enough confidence to teach part-time at a local studio. Thirteen years later, I am still learning. I still have weaknesses, and I still discover something new every day.
The biggest difference is that I no longer believe talent is what determines success. Painting and drawing are skills that grow through practice, persistence, and curiosity. Talent may open a door, but dedication is what carries you through it.
Somewhere along the way, the accountant became an artist.
Today, teaching is just as important to me as creating. In many ways, my growth as an artist is inseparable from my growth as a teacher. The challenge of designing meaningful, engaging lessons for children and adults pushes me to keep improving, keep experimenting, and keep learning. It may seem like an unusual path, but teaching is what fuels my creativity. It keeps me moving forward and reminds me why I fell in love with making art in the first place.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have always been drawn to fibers and textiles. There is something about their texture, history, and versatility that continues to captivate me. It feels only natural that these materials have become the foundation of my artistic practice. I describe myself as a mixed-media fiber artist, constantly exploring the intersection of painting, sewing, and storytelling.
My current work takes two primary forms. In one, I “paint” with thread using a home sewing machine, building images line by line with stitched color and texture. In the other, I mount patterned cotton fabrics onto canvas and paint directly over them, allowing the fabric itself to become an active participant in the final composition.
The subjects I explore are often rooted in my culture and heritage, but inspiration can come from anywhere. I am particularly interested in ideas, memories, and experiences that awaken a sense of wonder and reconnect me with my childlike curiosity.
My fabric paintings are created through a subtractive process. I carefully select fabrics whose colors, motifs, and printed imagery support the story I want to tell. Rather than covering the surface entirely, I paint over portions of the print while allowing other patterns to remain visible. The result is a layered conversation between the fabric and the paint, where each element contributes to what I hope becomes a thoughtful and visually rich composition.
My thread paintings explore many of the same ideas through a completely different language. These works are studies in positive and negative space, color relationships, and narrative. Every image is constructed entirely from stitched thread. Unlike traditional embroidery, there is no base fabric visible in the finished work. The threads themselves support one another, creating a self-sustaining structure that forms the image. The final piece is composed solely of thread, giving it a delicate quality that feels both substantial and weightless—as if the image is floating in space.
Whether I am working with fabric, paint, or thread, I am continually searching for new ways to transform familiar materials into something unexpected. My goal is to create work that invites viewers to look closer, discover hidden layers, and experience a sense of curiosity and wonder.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I was once a wild child, raised under my grandmother’s care, where my curiosity was never restrained. She gave me the freedom to roam the farming fields my grandparents owned—wide spaces filled with corn and fruit trees that felt like my private world.
The fruit trees were my favorite. I would climb them alone, settling into the branches as I ate fruit straight from the source. From up high, the fields stretched out, and everything felt simple and free.
When I had my fill, I would make my way beyond the fields to the river. I would slip into the water without hesitation, letting it cool my skin after the heat of the day.
Tree, fruit, river—my world, and I love every minute of it.
Pricing:
- I charge by square inch. More time consuming pieces priced at a higher price. However I try to maintain prices consistent.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nancyoforiart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancyoforiart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nancyoofori
