Olivia Eshe Holt (b. 1998) is a visual artist and designer from Detroit, Michigan. Her artistry spans from traditional handcrafting to experimental techniques in ceramics, art furniture, and mixed media sculpture. She earned her BFA in Product Design with a minor in Craft & Material Studies from the College for Creative Studies.
glazed stoneware. 2025
During the Appalachian Forest Stewardship Residency, I took on the mission of preserving nature trails and farmlands while learning about the hidden histories of the Midwest. Ohio's landscape played a key role in the operation and effectiveness of the Underground Railroad's safe houses and secret travel routes. There are records of free Black communities, white abolitionists, and Native American settlements along the Ohio River that aided freedom seekers prior to the Emancipation Proclamation.
Star Seeds commemorates this geography of historical resistance, memorializing foraged finds from my time spent hiking Ohio's Appalachian Front. This installation places interpretations of seeds as symbols of resilience and possibility in a guiding constellation of iron-like stars and charms referencing the usage of celestial navigation within the Underground Railroad.
Dairy Barn Art Center Exhibition Statement