Shantae Robinson

Shantae Robinson (b. 1988) is an interdisciplinary artist based in the Bay Area. Her work is tactile and vibrant, often featuring symbols grouped together in swells and swarms: ceramic vessels overflow with hand-rolled spirals, slivers, and orbs; canvases fill with stacks of her signature “S” form. Regardless of material, each finished surface bears her confident line-work and striking color palette. 

Since joining NIAD Art Center in 2015, Robinson has expanded her practice to include soft sculpture and hand-stitched, couture garments adorned with embroidery, pompoms, beads, and drawn designs. She describes her process: “I sew all the lines down first, and then I add different threads and colors — different red colors. I sew them in. I made a dress and another dress. I made a whole box of clothes. I love it!” Through her work with the collaborative garment-construction project, SOFT MATERIAL, Robinson demonstrated embroidery techniques for the Textile Society of America and the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco.

Robinson has participated in exhibitions at the Chico Art Center, Eddie Rhodes Gallery, Berkeley Art Center, and the Oakland Museum of California. Her work is in numerous private collections across the country, from the Bay Area to the Hamptons, NY. In 2024, she was one of 20 artists profiled in the print publication, “We Make Art in Richmond,” co-published by NIAD Art Center and Richmond Arts & Culture Commission.