Ryan Setow is a 18-year old multimedia fiber artist based in Quincy, Massachusetts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he picked up a needle and thread for the first time, and he never looked back. By combining fibers with more conventional mediums to synthesize unique, vibrant, and detailed pieces, he hopes to capture the beauty of the mundane. He often looks towards his family’s Asian heritage and Burmese culture for inspiration, as well as his queer identity.

I am an interdisciplinary fiber impressionist, as I strive to capture the vibrant essence of the world around me through my own creative interpretations. I thrive off combining mediums to create multi-dimensional works which guide the viewer. Out of the fiber arts I have explored so far, I consider embroidery and sewing to be my favorite ones for their versatility in the synthesis of art work. I emphasize the beauty of the mundane in my artwork, which I hope inspires viewers to perceive their own lives brighter. This is why I commonly incorporate found objects in my artwork, as I can see potential in all materials and all mediums.

As a Queer Asian American, I believe it's important to share my experiences and my culture through my artwork. I’m constantly struggling between weighing my immigrant practicality and my queer aestheticism, which is why I enjoy working with fibers, since they have the capability to both be beautiful and useful.