ABOUT

Eliza Swann aka Emerald is an interdisciplinary artist, intuitive, writer, and educator based in New York City. They are the author of The Anatomy of the Aura (St. Martin’s, 2020), a book that best-selling author Yumi Sakugawa calls “beautiful and life-affirming.” Their writing has appeared in BOMB, Arthur, Contemporary Art Review LA, Momus, and Perfect Wave and they contributed writing to Witchcraft (Taschen) and Modern Witches (Weiser). Their work has been supported by PEN America, Foundation for Contemporary Art, Author’s League Fund, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, Pratt Faculty Development Fund, The Feminist Center for Creative Work, and Wassaic Project. Eliza is currently faculty at Pratt Institute, where they teach alchemy across many artistic disciplines. They are the 2023 lecturer-in-residence at the Philosophical Research Society where they are leading a series of talks on alchemy.

Eliza received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London. As a visual artist, Eliza has exhibited artwork internationally, most recently at the University of California Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA), and the Feminist Center for Creative Work (Los Angeles, CA).

Eliza is also founder of the Golden Dome School, an alternative mystery school that explores the mystical dimensions of art. Golden Dome School was founded by Eliza in 2014 as they contemplated the disastrous effects of capitalism and climate change, and wondered what art and spiritual practice could do to help. Golden Dome produces exhibitions, performances, classes, publications, and artist residencies year round and nationwide. Golden Dome has collaborated with numerous cultural institutions across the United States to bring queer intersectional mysticism and art to the public including Coaxial Arts, Feminist Center for Creative Work, The Hammer Museum, The Philosophical Research Society and more.

Contact: elizaswann@gmail.com