about

“No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” - C.S. Lewis  

“I found God in myself, and I loved her, I loved her fiercely.” - Ntozake Shange 

I found myself experiencing a transformative experience like no other. The dreams I had as a little girl became a blur. I dreamt of the white picket fence life with three beautiful chocolate babies running around in the yard. I dreamt of a life without struggles. A life where love would be the center chakra with a light so bright other folks would smile and nod within my presence. After much loss, I begin to experience the chapters of mourning. Mourning from the death of dreams. I found myself alone and needing answers. With the universe's guidance, I was able to turn to my community to pour into my art practice as I began my healing journey. I was named Linnea. A product of Cheryl and Gregory and a direct descendant of Betty Jean Wood. I am a Mother, practitioner of art practice, and an Educator by discipline. The production of my work speaks internal volumes with the visuals and uses of textiles, wooden panels, metal wiring, and the blues hues of indigo. My initial purpose for viewers is to interact with my work, take deep breaths of my immersive installations, and to be “still” and know that mourning is a process. Grief is in stages. Healing is work. 

Biography:

Linnea Poole is a Baltimore based Art Practitioner and Fiber Sculptress. Linnea is a graduate from Coppin State University (BS) and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MFA). Their interdisciplinary art practice includes large scale fiber installations and autoethnographic writings that proposes open discussions surrounding topics on Black women, mourning, compound grief, and self healing.

Poole is a Professor of Art and has lectured at various colleges and is currently teaching part time at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Linnea has also held leadership positions at various youth arts programs across Baltimore City. Their work has been exhibited at prominent institutions and galleries such as the James E. Lewis Museum, Galerie Myrtis, Horowitz Gallery,The Peale Museum, Brentwood Artist Exchange, and at the Live! Casino and Hotel. Linnea has presented her scholarly work at many higher ed art symposiums across the U.S. including the Foundations in Art: Theory in Education conference where she shared her research proposal titled  “the room is silent, black death in the world of higher academia” that also included the study on labor and  the importance beyond the development for art students in the first year experience classroom. Additionally, Poole has received media coverage from outlets like CBS News, WBAL News, and publications such as BmoreArt. The artist’s article “If We Speak, Do You Listen; If You Hear, Will You Respond?” was published by the Teacher’s College at Columbia University in October 2023.