Larissa Miller's final fibers thesis, 'Presence,' debuts at Cedar House Gallery, June 3

In 2020, when Georgia-native Larissa Miller enrolled in the MFA fibers program at Savannah College of Art and Design, she was ready for big changes. Out of college she’d landed a position with a national company designing mattress panels. A few years later in the wake of the George Floyd murder and consequent national social unrest, Miller was compelled to return to school to focus on being a more intentional artist. She especially wanted to home in on issues of representation of Black women in traditional Western art.

On June 3, Miller debuts “PRESENCE,” a thesis collection of 14 fibers-focused works that reimagine inclusive imagery of underrepresented bodies. The exhibition opens at Cedar House Gallery, 122 E. 36 St., and is on display for one night only.

Pivotal moment: 'I wanted more control in the kinds of work I was creating.'

Miller grew up in a family that fostered creativity. Her mother, especially, was keen on ensuring her daughter had ample opportunity for creative exploration and thinking outside the box. But Miller, who is also practical, studied consumer apparel and retail, the business side of clothing, at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. A semester studying abroad in Manchester, England, helped her land a design position with the Sealy and Serta companies after graduation.

“I was in charge of making sure designs for mattress panels were pretty and would not break the machines making them,” reflected Miller. “I’d never done anything quite like that, so there was a level of learning on the job. Mostly, I focused on aesthetic of design.”

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But the longer she stayed in the position, the more she saw a glaring lack of people working there who looked like her. Then, the murder of George Floyd became pivotal.

“It started to get to me when I realized the environment I was working in wasn’t inclusive,” emphasized Miller. “And as an artist, I wanted more control in the kinds of work I was creating. I wanted to fill in that gap of understanding what it means to make things with my hands and of being more intentional with that making.”

Miller found herself at a turning point where she was grateful for her employment but increasingly disillusioned with the work and its culture. She very much needed a change. First, she dove headlong into creating her own home décor brand, RissaLaRue Co. Then, she researched graduate programs, with SCAD landing at the top.

'My driver is to create work that Black women find reflection in.'

Since living and studying in the Hostess city, Miller has thrived. The art community, especially Sulfur Studios and Savannah Cultural Arts, have embraced her vision and focus. And at SCAD, Miller has met more students who similarly grew up lacking visual representation and who are now using their art to raise the profiles of Black women and people of color in social contexts of pop culture and mass media.

“In my thesis show, my biggest focus is to create space of representation,” said Miller. “My driver is to create work that Black women find reflection in. A lot of my work is about having autonomy over storytelling and Black womanhood, to empower people to collectively create space for this truth telling of story.”

In her tapestry, “Foundations,” a 50” X 60” jacquard weave that’s part self-portrait, natal astrology chart and original song lyrics, Miller explores the esoterics of personal identity. She composed the image digitally and then a small, automated weaving company in San Francisco produced the final work. It is personal, affirmational and hints at divine guidance the power of one’s family tree and necessity of ancestral support in navigating time-space of life.

“Forteza,” a 13” X 14” hand-woven piece represents the physical connection, power and efficacy needed to make art. The work depicts the strength card from the tarot deck, an image traditionally created with a European body-type.  Miller has re-envisioned the card casting herself as human figure.

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“I decided it was time to use myself as muse, as reflection,” emphasized Miller. “The strength card is about being able to persevere through obstacles, to keep going, but also is symbolic of the armor that Black women must put on to move forward in life every day. I’m drawing from Greek goddess energy and re-imagining the scene with Black bodies and features in mind.”

After graduation, Miller plans to stay in Savannah until August when Chicago becomes a possibility. But until then, Miller will keep working, creating and building her home décor line—making art intentionally.”

“One goal is to continue working and fostering creative spaces that reflect inclusivity. And I’m working on wallpaper designs as well as commissioned fine arts pieces,” said Miller. “Savannah is going to hold on to me just a little longer because I still have things to do here.”

If You Go >>

What: PRESENCE, MFA Thesis show, Larissa Miller

Where: Cedar House Gallery, 122 E. 36^th St., Savannah

When: 5 to 8 p.m., June 3

Cost: Free

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Cedar House Gallery to host final thesis of fibers artist Larissa Miller