Y A N K E E   L O N D O N  S T U D I O

Musings from a Yankee artist abroad in London...
Reins
Picture
The MFA cohort collaborated on a project: A Certain Kind of Loudness, spearheaded by Tamsin Spargo, as an art intervention for Women's History Month in March 2021. Featuring the theme of hobby horses, a growing phenomenon amongst young girls for several years, the project was "produced in recognition of girls and women throughout the world who are strong, wild, loud, 'feisty', determined, 'crazy', ambitious, empowered, uninhibited, and unintimidated." We responded to the call to contribute with images, texts, and graphics. My photograph, shown here, is a departure from the work that I am known for. But believe me when I tell you that, despite my quiet exterior and formal contemplative work, I am a warrior. What you can't see in the photo is that I am holding my own reins. Standing on the shoulders of feminists that came before me, I have the privilege of individual agency and I sure as hell am going to encourage girls and young women to take their own initiatives--to take a hold of their own reins.
Romi Sloboda was born in the United States and spent her childhood living in both the United States and her mother's native city, Seoul, Korea. She studied printmaking at the Santa Reparata Graphic Arts Centre in Florence, and received her BFA from Washington University in St. Louis and her MFA from London Metropolitan University. Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows throughout the United States as well as in Europe. She has been awarded residencies from the Cité Internationale des Arts Fondation in Paris, the University of Texas at Dallas, and the Herekeke Arts Center in New Mexico. Romi currently lives and works in London, United Kingdom.