We recently connected with Persephone Bennett and have shared our conversation below.

Persephone, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?

As a neurodivergent, mentally ill woman artist, I, and my work are chronically misinterpreted. I view the pieces I make as a means of releasing parts of myself from secrecy. To me, my art demonstrates a visual language that is so directly tied to what I am mulling over while I make it, but often because it is colorful, people misinterpret it as joyful.

Persephone, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I came out of the womb knowing I wanted to be a fashion designer.
Upon taking a textiles course as a senior in high school at my local art college, I realized that I loved every single aspect of the process of making clothing, from knitting, weaving, and printing, to drawing and sewing. As I continued my education at Rhode Island School of Design, I realized that knitwear was the thing that consistently held my interest.
Through my education, I began to understand the scale of the environmental impact of fashion. From there, I endeavored to become a zero-waste designer, using all materials given to me, and eventually majority scrap materials to make eclectic clothing and art pieces. I have developed an instinctual method of making, that focuses on being in tune with my emotions, working within randomized materials, and developing organic-feeling forms and textures. In this vein, I make knit clothing, hand embroidered art pieces, woven tapestries, hand-spun yarn, and more.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me, making clothing for others is to have them under my care. When someone says they feel comfortable, confident, and seen in the pieces I make for them, that to me is my marker of success.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My dad was diagnosed with a terminal illness when I was 16 years old, and he passed when I was 23 years old. Living with grief too big for others to understand has shaped my work immeasurably. I knit beside my father’s deathbed, because making was the only thing I could think to do.
I try to take my grief and my rage and my hurt and make something productive of them, and hopefully things that helps others understand me better, and that they can relate to as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sephiebennett.com
• Instagram: @persephonebennett

Image Credits

artist headshot: photographer Annie Tzvetanova

photos 2/3: Photographer Hiccup Sibold Model David Ross Lawn
Photo4: Model Piper Allison
photo 5: photographer Tina Vartanian Model Helen Lejeune Makeup Artist Pearl Kim
photo 6: Model Vas Halastras
photo 7: Photographer Alexx Duvall